James 1:22 (ESV)
²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

What are you doing for Christ and His cause? I have often pointed out that the religion of our Lord is a doing religion, and there are many passages to back up that sentiment, one of which you see above. James’ teaching on doing in James 1:22-25 is some of the most practical teachings in the New Testament. His illustration of looking into a mirror is one to which most of us can relate, and it gets right to the matter. Just looking into a mirror will not change the way anyone looks. Action must be taken. The same thing is true with the Word of God. As powerful as the Word is, it cannot save you if all you ever do is read it. You must be a doer of it.

Jesus was just as clear about this.

Matthew 7:21 (ESV)
²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Just believing in Jesus will not put you into the kingdom of God. The will of God must be done. Fortunately, we can know exactly what the will of God is because it is found in the Bible, and we have easy access to it. The question is, are we willing to study and apply the Word of God to our lives?

The devil throws many obstacles in our path. He influences us to use our time unwisely. This is not anything new. Satan tends to use strategies over and over again (if they work), causing members of the Lord’s church to waste time. This has been effective over the years. Think about it. The devil has not been too effective at causing seasoned Christians to behave immorally. Yes, once in a while we hear of a Christian being overtaken by some type of sin, but all in all, more Christians than not, remain pure from a moral standpoint. But how many of us are guilty of wasting time? Paul recognized the problem.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)
¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Let us all walk wisely, making the best use of our time by being active members of the Lord’s church.

There are other obstacles we face, including having a desire to do our own will more than God’s. Self might be the biggest obstacle we face when it comes to doing God’s will. It is not that hard to put the Lord before other people, but to put Him before our personal wants, wishes, and desires can be a huge challenge for some. This is why Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself…” (Matthew 16:24). A refusal to do this has stopped some from being consistent doers of the Word.

Let us all examine ourselves to determine if we are truly doers of the will of God. After all, only the doer who acts will be blessed in his doing (James 1:25).

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.