“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22
Athletes are familiar with the term muscle memory. It’s a training method that consists of practicing the same fundamentals over and over until their muscles instinctively know what to do. That is muscle memory. Well, it’s similar with believers who read the Word of God and do it consistently. They are building a sensitivity to the Voice of the Word and walking in the Word consistently helps them to recognize the Voice of the Good Shepherd! It’s the same familiar voice who authored the scriptures! That’s the inward witness of the Spirit!
As born-again believers, we are new creations! However, none of us have arrived. That means none of us are immune to the deceptions of this world, so we need to take heed to the scriptures and apply them. Jesus talked about the times we’re living in and warned us that the deception will be so pervasive that, if it were possible, even the elect might be deceived. (Mt. 24:24) BUT – God has given us several ways in the scriptures to avoid the pitfalls of deception, the above title verse in James gives us one of those ways to protect ourselves from deception.
Do The Word!
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, that if we HEAR what He says and DO what He says, it’s wisdom! Hearing and doing the Word of God is building your house, which is your life and future, on the Rock of Truth. It is an immovable foundation that will withstand the storms of life, including the storm of deception that is mounting against the Church in this present hour!
Another benefit of DOING the Word is that it will help us discern the Voice of the Lord. We’ll recognize it easier because it is the same Voice throughout the Word of God, and is in harmony with the rest of the Bible! When we have accustomed ourselves to walking in the Word of God it builds a consistency into us that will easily recognize the deceiver because that voice will be inconsistent with the Voice we have come to know. Jesus said, “…the voice of a stranger they will not follow…”
God desires us to be free from deception. That’s why He gave us His Word. The Word is the Truth that makes us free! Like food releases its life-giving power to our bodies, applying the Word releases the power Truth in us, and the Truth will liberate us from the deception of the enemy, and give us a bright and clear light to our path.
With Love,
Pastor Tom