Vicarious Faith!

Listen to this blog.

Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it. If you hear the message and don’t obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as soon as they leave.

But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.

James 1:22-25

Someone coined a phrase for what these verses are talking about. It is called "obedience based Bible Study." Every time you go to God's Word and look at the Scriptures ask yourself how you can be obedient to this Word! Then do it!

I love to watch an action filled movie. I can pretend that I am doing all those exciting and dangerous things and vicariously experience them all. But all I am is a spectator in the stands. It is really how our system of entertainment works. We sit in the audience and watch others perform great feats. All the while we are no stronger for it.

If you are not obedient to God's Word when you read it, you are nothing more than a member of the audience, being entertained by the Word of God and those who do live it! If you are obedient to the Word of God then each step you take makes you more and more like Jesus.

In the “Super Bowl of Life” there is no value in being in the stands. There is no section in Heaven for "Fans of Jesus!" It is only those who are changed and become like Jesus who will live in Heaven with Him!

So today when you read the Bible, ask yourself this question: How can I obey that verse? Keep asking that question until God shows you the answer.  Obey it and then go on to the next verse!