"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:22-25

The perfect law of liberty is the word of God. A mirror gives you an exact picture of what you look like. A mirror tells the truth. Sometimes, we can see the truth in a picture also. The bible gives us that also. One of the most important things to build into our Christian life is reading the bible on a regular basis. It is good to read it early in the morning with a prayerful thought of what would God have for us. In the evening, do the same thing. It is good to have prayer that God would help us to see his will. And it is so important to be a doer of what He shows you.

In the beginning God created...

(Genesis 1:1)

In this world we live, I think people tend to forget just who, how and why the things that they are struggling with, is because of how things have been set from the creation of the world.

If you asked someone can you change the seasons, they would probably say no. Can you change the color of the sky, no. How about the clouds, the sun, how the planets are arranged in the sky, or how many stars are in the sky, what color are the trees, and we could go on and on. Things have been set since the creation of time and they were created by God. He is the only one who can change any of those things if he wants to.

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Hebrews 2: 1-3

This letter is truly written to us- in this day and time. The book of Hebrews was written late in the writings of the apostles. You can sense a difference in the things that were written by the apostles later. There was an urgency that seemed to indicate that they wanted to talk about the things that were most important. You almost get the sense that it is one of the last letters that will be written. Its a warning not to neglect our salvation.

And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:2-5)

Here we see the Lord healing an individual who was in deep need. He saw the hearts and faith of the individuals who brought this one and also the heart of the one needing the healing and he forgave the sick of his sins. The Lord not only healed his body, but He healed his heart. He received the blessing He needed and more. Why? Because of the honesty of his heart. Maybe he didn't have huge faith, but he obviously had an honest heart and some faith to look to the Lord. I believe the Lord is looking for just that, an honest heart. One who will look and think or pray to God in an honest way. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts:

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." Ezekiel 22:30

It is our role in our Christian life to do what is missing in this scripture- to stand in the gap. Here God was speaking about the condition of the people of the land. It had to do with the people’s spiritual need. There was no one who was willing to stand up for what was right. He couldn't find someone to stand in the gap. We have this same challenge today.

How do you gain the trust of one who is frightened and mistrustful? Not by plowing in on them and expecting that they should just trust you. But by being a consistent, steady presence in their life. One that stays very near to them, calmly and quietly and shows that they are interested in them, with love.

Purpose

• The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal:
• A result or effect that is intended or desired; an intention.
• Determination; resolution:
• The matter at hand; the point at issue.

"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." 1 Corinthians 9: 19-24

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In order to have anything with God, we must have integrity. We have to battle to maintain integrity. The enemy is out to use lies and everything he can to undermine our integrity. If he does that, he can undermine anything we have of confidence in Christ. One definition for integrity is soundness of moral character or honesty.

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." Job 2:3

It is good to have the Lord testify on your behalf. The key part of our relationship with God is in knowing that God has confidence in us. The Lord said that Job held fast his integrity. The Lord allowed him to be tested.

"So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well: And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me." II Kings 4:26-27

This scripture is about a woman that Elisha knew. She came to him with a very serious need. The woman was grieved. In her grief, she did something that was probably not acceptable in their culture: she grabbed his feet. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, only recognized her actions on the surface- as improper. But Elisha saw there was a deeper need and addressed her accordingly. In 1 Samuel 1 we read about another woman that seemed to be behaving in a wrong way. The prophet Eli saw her actions and put one and one together to come up with three. He didn’t recognize the grief in her heart.