April 16

Three Thoughts

It's possible to read the Bible every single day and never let it change you. Which is really sad to say, but it's true. James calls that self-deception. Hearing the Word without doing it misses the point. We need to learn how to be doers of the Word.

JAMES 1:22

Jesus said if you hear his words and actually do them, you're like someone who built their house on rock, and even though the storms still come, you won't collapse. Obedience is about building a life that can stand when everything else shakes.

MATTHEW 7:24

God told Joshua to meditate on his Word day and night. He didn't tell him to become a scholar, but to learn how to live it out. Obedience is always the goal. The gap between knowing God's Word and doing God's Word is one of the scariest places a Christian can live. Let's learn to close the gap.

JOSHUA 1:8

Two Quotes

Pastor and Author Timothy Keller on the story of God:

"The Bible is in the end a single, great story that comes to a climax in Jesus Christ."

Teacher and author Priscilla Shirer on obeying God:

"God does not speak to be heard. He speaks to be obeyed."

Prayer

Lord, I don't want to become someone who just reads your Word and doesn't actually do anything about it. I want to be someone who lives it out. Forgive me for all of the times where I've heard you speak and then walked away without making any changes. Give me the courage to obey you today. Amen.

Question

What’s one thing you’ve read in Scripture lately that you know you should be doing, but haven’t started yet?

See you next Thursday,
Zach

P.S. You guys, guess what!? I finished the first draft of my next book today!! It's all coming together! Now I will spend the next 3 months doing two rounds of edits/rewrites before turning it into my publisher in August. Would really appreciate your continued prayers during this time!