James (W3D4) Freedom to be Blessed
Week 3. Thursday: The Freedom to Be Blessed
PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.
READ: James 1:25
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words
Whoever looks intently: James uses the word “intently” to stress his point. The Greek phrase here is parakyptō which means: to look carefully into, or to inspect with intense curiosity. When we read God’s word we should do so with an intense desire to let it reveal in us everything that needs to change.
The perfect law that gives freedom: When we think about God’s law we often think about rules and regulations that tie us down. We don’t usually think of God’s word as freeing. But James is saying that living out God’s word is not oppressive but that it actually brings us freedom. We are freed from sin and its consequences. We are freed from the bondage of the worldly culture we live in.
Continues in it: Because living out God’s word is difficult, we will always be tempted to take a break from living God’s way. Since following Jesus requires us to die to ourselves we are often tempted to stop trying. That’s why James stresses that we must continue in our efforts to live it out.
Blessed: Being blessed is not about money, possessions, or fame. The biblical concept of being blessed is a state of peace and contentment with God and the life He has given you. We experience the greatest gain by being content (1 Timothy 6:6).
APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?
In what ways can we “look intently” into God’s word?
How does reading God’s word intently bring you freedom?
How does continually living out God’s word bring us peace and contentment?
PRAY: Ask God to help you be free and content with the life He has given you.
