James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The Apostle James had a way of getting right to the point without mincing words or beating around the bush. We should all be like that.
I would like to discuss what the Word is saying about receiving the Word of God.
I believe most Christians would say that they would want their faith to work or have
faith that produces. I believe God wants us to walk in faith even more than we do.
We know that without faith it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
We could infer by this that it takes faith to please God. Have you ever wondered why this is? It takes some effort on our part to accomplish this. Many people say we just automatically have faith as God has given to each man the measure of faith.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
God has given to each of us the measure or ability it takes to fulfill the plan and purpose of our calling on our lives. We see this if we read on.
4. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5. so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
We still have a responsibility to receive God’s Word and act on it as the Apostle James said. We have to be doers of the Word.
Let’s take this one step at a time.
We have to put away the things that would cause us not to receive God’s Word. In other words the obvious things or sometimes not so obvious things that can pull us away from God’s will. Then he said to receive with meekness the implanted Word. Have you stopped to consider that we have to receive the Word of God? We have to receive it with meekness. This is talking about a humble attitude toward God. As a matter of fact God’s Word can only be received with meekness. You can’t receive it any other way. Strong’s concordance says meekness is a filling up. You receive and get filled up with the Word of God. This is a process, its called implantation. This is a very literal description of what happens to us when we receive the Word of God. God’s Word is planted in our hearts when we receive it.
We have the choice to make whether we receive it or not. It’s always presented to us.
Faith is always produced when we hear, but we have to take the next step and act on what we have heard.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
17. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
And as the Apostle James said … 22. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
I would like to look at how Mary received the Word when presented with the Words of God by the Angle Gabriel.
Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
30. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33. "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’’ 34. Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?’’ 35. And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36. "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37. "For with God nothing will be impossible.’’ 38. Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’’ And the angel departed from her.
The angle Gabriel was sent to Mary to deliver the Word of God. He gave her this message; And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus; Mary perplexed asked how this could happen since she didn’t know a man and the angle responded and told her "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Mary’s response was 38. Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’’ And the angel departed from her.
Looking at this section of Scripture we see that Mary received the Word of God spoken through the angle Gabriel. Have you considered what would have happened if she had not received it. She had a choice to make, we know that God sees the beginning from the end and knew what would happen however she still had the choice to make.
She received God’s Word. We know this because of what she said to the angle Gabriel.
Let it be to me according to your word.
God’s Word was implanted in her. Gabriel said The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Some people would say she really didn’t have a choice in this, however God’s Word is full of people who did not receive the Word of God, and because of their disobedience suffered the consequences. I am not saying this to bring fear but to make aware there are consequences to our actions. God wants to bless us and in order to do that we have to follow His plan and do things His way, anything else is just us doing what we want. It’s not that he doesn’t want to bless us but He really won’t override our will. If we won’t follow after Him and put ourselves in a place where He can bless us then we suffer for our actions. There is a reason He wants us to do things a certain way. We might not always understand it but it is always for our benefit.
As our opening Scripture says, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
This is something Mary did. She received with meekness this Holy Word of God.
This Word was implanted within her. She received the Word of God and because of her obedience became the mother to the Savior of the world. Glory to God.
John said this … John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
What word was the Apostle John talking about? God’s Word was spoken to Mary, received by her implanted within her very being and conceived within her the Holy child Jesus.
Mary said let it be to me according to your word. Mary had God’s Word implanted within her, this happened because she received it with meekness.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus was called the Word of God, because He is!
God’s Word is received the same way for us today as it was for Mary 2000 years ago.
You hear the Word, you make the choice to receive it and let it become implanted within your heart.
Jesus said in Johns Gospel … John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
I would like to encourage you to take the Word of God and let it become implanted within your very being. God’s promises are fulfilled this way.
Jesus said in John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
God’s Word is not just another set of printed words on a page they are spirit and they are life. Let God’s Word take hold and grow within you and see the results of life.
