“But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 CSB
“For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.” Romans 2:13 CSB
What do you think about when you read these verses? What do Paul and James mean when they talk about the “word” and the “law”? What does it mean to be a “doer” rather than a “hearer”?
The Greek word translated “doer” comes up in one other place in the New Testament, in Acts 17. “For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said…” (vs 28) Did you see it? Can you guess which word in that sentence is the same as “doer”? Remarkably the word is poets. The Greek work is Poietes, literally meaning one who does something, or one who makes something.
If we go all the way back to the beginning, God made man to create and form the world in partnership with him. To build and shape this new world to the increase of God’s glory and our good. But along the way, we chose a different route.
The story of God’s word is of that original purpose, our rebellion, and God’s good work in drawing us not only back into relationship with him, but back into partnership with him. As followers of Jesus, those who have been reconciled to God, it is now our call to take the raw materials given to us in God’s word and begin to build. Not according to our whims and plans, but according to God’s design.
Join us this Fall as we look deeply into God’s word, learning to understand and apply it as we join God in his great and glorious purposes becoming the craftsmen he intended us to be.
