Seeing

 James 1.25 NLT

But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

 

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This morning I was reading through James 1. I heard God's clear call to me: 

...be quick to hear, slow to speak... 

"Yes, Lord, you are right. I still need to grow here. I interrupted someone again last night before an idea was able to be completely shared. I failed miserably at being quick to hear and slow to speak. I am so sorry."

Just a few verses later He catches me in my fault (clearly He knows me well): 

...don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says...

"Oh, Lord, help me to walk in this truth. It will bless others, it will bless me, it will bless You. It is hardest to do with those closest to me. Help me."

And yet again, two verses later, He interrupts my stream of consciousness with this great and marvelous counsel:.

...But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free...

Ah, yes, look carefully, Dar. Look carefully. 

Other translations put it this way: look intently; peer and fix our attention there.

My interpretation: give it more than a cursory glance. Not an "I read this chapter and can check the box" kind of reading. 

Of course not. Clearly His perfect law deserves more. After all, it is a wealth laid before us, a treasure box to be discovered. It requires that we fix our attention. Take care. Look with attentiveness and keen fascination. 

All of these ideas were meditated on because I took His admonition to heart. I looked up various versions; I chewed on the meaning of each one and looked up definitions of words used. I needed to be schooled in that simple promise: But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free...

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This morning as I read James, was I sensing freedom in the call to be quick to hear and slow to speak? Not really. Hope, and a desire to do so, yes, but freedom? Maybe not quite.

Was it freeing to be told that I should not merely listen but that I should do? Hmmm...not exactly. 

Have I had great success in this over the past 50 years of following Jesus? NO. I've had some success, perhaps even fair success. 

But am I there yet? NO. 

And then comes this precious counsel from my Daddy in heaven:

James 1.25 NLT

But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

The perfect law provides freedom. How could I have forgotten?

Lean on Him, Dar. Cry out to Him for understanding, forgiveness, and grace to walk in obedience. There is freedom there. There is NO freedom in trying to do it yourself, neither is there freedom in continuing to live in sin. You will be a slave to sin or to flesh in those scenarios. So: repent, repent, and repent again. Turn away from those things over and over and you will find the liberty that comes through His perfect law of grace and redemption. 

Thank you, Lord, for daily sustenance and patient reminders. 

I will always love learning Your holy ways.