Currently we’re in a message series called “Five Foundations for Life.” As we start out the new year of 2010, it’s important to look at these five basic purposes that God has for every believer. These past three Sundays, we’ve looked at Powerful Prayer, Meaningful Relationships and Spiritual Growth through God’s Word. Powerful prayer had to do with our relationship with God. Meaningful relationships was focused on our relationships with other believers in the church family. Last Sunday, we examined the importance of studying the Bible in order to grow spiritually.
Knowing what the Bible says is not enough, we must apply it and put it into practice in our lives.
James 1:22 (NLT) But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
There are people who get these five foundations in their lives out of balance. Some people so focus on studying the Bible, that they have no time to actually do what it says. James tells us that there is no benefit in studying the Bible is you don’t do what it says.
Today, we’re going to talk about “Compassionate Service.” Another title may have been simply “Putting God’s Word into Practice.” Serving in the family of God is a God-given method to grow spiritually. It goes hand in hand with studying God’s Word to know what to do.
It’s kind of like giving one of your children a book about playing baseball. They can sit down and study that book about baseball for weeks. They can take a test and score 100% because they know all the baseball vocabulary and rules. Yet, until they pick up a bat, glove and ball and get into the backyard to put their knowledge into practice, they don’t know how to play baseball. Knowledge must be applied before you reap the benefit.
God has a plan for your life of putting His Word into practice. God’s plan for each of our lives is different.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Notice in this verse, that as a believer, you were created for a purpose. Your purpose is to do the good things that God planned for you before you were born. What are those good things you are to do? They are putting God’s Word into practice in a way that is consistent with how God created you.
James 1:25 (NLT) But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
The blessing of God comes on the lives and families of those who put God’s Word into practice. So how can you grow in doing God’s Word?
Listen to my January 24, 2010 message “Compassionate Service” (message-notes).