Work Out Your Faith Every Single Day
WELCOME TO LET'S TALK GOD 'N' CHRIST, YOUR TRANSFORMATIVE CHRISTIAN PODCAST
Opening Prayer:
Let's bow our heads for a moment of prayer.
Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and minds, eager to receive Your truth. We ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide us, to illuminate Your Word, and to transform us from the inside out. Help us not just to hear with our ears, but to truly listen with our spirits, so that Your message may take root and bear fruit in our lives. May this time together be glorifying to You and a catalyst for change in us. In Jesus' mighty name, we pray. Amen.
Welcome to Your Journey to Transformative Faith
Welcome back to "LET'S TALK GOD 'N' CHRIST!", the podcast where we explore what it truly means to work out our faith every single day. I'm your host, Ngozi Ndubisi, and I'm so glad you've joined us for another powerful conversation.
Today, we're tackling a question that cuts right to the heart of our spiritual walk. It's a question rooted in James 1:22, and it's one we all need to honestly ask ourselves:
How might we unknowingly deceive ourselves by merely hearing God's Word without actively putting it into practice in our daily lives?
It's a profound question, isn't it? And in this episode, I'll do my best to answer it as simply and clearly as possible. This leads us directly to our topic for today:
"Don't Just Hear It; Live It!"
Our foundational scripture, James 1:22, puts it plainly: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
This verse isn't just a suggestion; it's a serious warning. It challenges us to examine our spiritual lives beyond the surface.
Are You Living the Word—or Just Listening to It?
The phrase "deceiving yourselves" in James 1:22 is truly weighty. It reveals a dangerous trap: we can be deeply involved in church activities: singing in the choir, attending services religiously, serving in various departments, even doing what we genuinely believe is 'good' in our own eyes; and still be walking in a subtle, yet profound, self-deception.
Think about it: sometimes we obey partially, or selectively, embracing the parts of Scripture that feel convenient or comfortable while conveniently overlooking the rest. But here's the uncomfortable truth: partial obedience is still disobedience. Living the Word means aligning our daily lives, our decisions, our attitudes, and our interactions with God's truth. It's not about performing religious routines; it's about genuine transformation. Anything less truly is self-deception.
Subtle Ways We Unknowingly Deceive Ourselves:
Let's explore some common ways we might unknowingly fall into this trap of self-deception:
1. The Illusion of Growth (False Growth)
Just because we attend church regularly, read devotionals, or can quote a handful of scriptures doesn't automatically mean we're growing spiritually. Real growth, authentic spiritual maturity, is evident in how we treat people, how readily we forgive, how deeply we love, how generously we give, how consistently we obey, and how truly we live the Word.
Remember Jesus' parable in Luke 6:46-49 about the wise and foolish builders? The wise builder acts on Jesus words, laying a strong foundation, while the foolish one only listens, and his house crumbles.
For example: You've heard countless sermons on forgiveness, perhaps even taught on it, but you still carry grudges from years ago. That's hearing, not doing. That's a house built on sand.
2. Knowledge Without Transformation
It's entirely possible to know the Bible from cover to cover and still live an unchanged life. God isn't merely impressed with head knowledge; He desires heart obedience.
Romans 12:2 doesn't tell us to just be informed by the renewing of our minds, but to be transformed by it. There's a big difference!
For example: You can recite verses on generosity, you understand the principle of giving, but your wallet and your actions remain tightly shut when an opportunity to bless someone arises. That's not transformation; that's resistance to God's will.
3. Believing "Knowing Some Truths" Means You're "Okay"
Being exposed to God's Word doesn't automatically mean you're in right standing with God. It's those who do His will who truly please Him and will enter His kingdom.
Matthew 7:21 is a sober warning: "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the Father's will." This isn't about mere verbal affirmation; it's about active surrender and obedience.
For example: Someone can beautifully quote scriptures about integrity and righteousness but consistently cheats in business, lies to their spouse, or engages in shady dealings behind closed doors. That's a massive spiritual blind spot, a dangerous deception.
4. The "Forgetful Hearer" Syndrome
James, in our foundational chapter, vividly compares this self-deception to someone who looks intently into a mirror, sees something that needs fixing, and then immediately walks away unchanged, forgetting what they saw.
For example: You hear a powerful sermon on controlling your anger, and you think, "Yes, I really need help with that." You feel conviction. But by Tuesday, you're back to blowing up at loved ones like nothing ever happened. The reflection in the mirror has been forgotten.
What Will You Do Differently?
Here's the thing: After every sermon you hear, every Bible passage you read, every Christian podcast you listen to, ask yourself this crucial question:
"What will I do differently because of this?"
This, my friends, is the key. This is the moment you stop deceiving yourself. This is when the Word truly becomes life, when it takes root deeply within you, and begins to produce fruit.
As John 13:17 beautifully puts it:
"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
The blessing isn't just in knowing; it's in the doing!
Being a hearer only is like being a student who never studies, a chef who never cooks, or a believer who never obeys. It's empty. It's a hollow pretense. It's deception.
But when we live what we hear? That's where the profound blessing lies. That's where the power of God's Word is unleashed in our lives. That's where the undeniable fruit of true Christianity blossoms.
So today, I urge you: Don't just hear God's Word—do something with it! Obey it. Apply it to your specific circumstances. Let it challenge you, transform you, and ultimately, liberate you. This isn't just about sounding religious; it's about genuinely living a life that honors God and draws others to Him.
Let's close in prayer.
Gracious God, we thank You for Your living Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit. We confess that often we are quick to hear but slow to obey. Forgive us for our self-deception and for every instance where we have chosen convenience over conviction.
Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to be not just hearers, but faithful doers of Your Word. Help us to consistently apply Your truth to every area of our lives, so that we may truly live out our faith and be a testament to Your transforming power.
May our lives be a living sermon, drawing others to Your grace and truth. We ask all this in the Precious Name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
Until next time, I remain Ngozi Ndubisi, reminding you that in this walk with God, hearing is good; but doing is everything.
Join us for our next episode of LET'S TALK GOD 'N' CHRIST where truth meets transformation. Stay blessed, and stay surrendered to the living Word!
GOD BLESS US ALL.
AMEN!