Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

I substitute teach at the local high school. This morning, I read the assignment instructions aloud as they read their copy. “Answer questions 1 – 5 in section one and questions 3 – 7 in section two”. Simple? Appeared so to me. Immediately, several students said, I don’t understand what to do.

Ok, let’s read the instructions again. I had a print out of the instructions and their copy was online, as was the assignment. I walked them through: open Google Classroom; click on today’s assessment; do you see Section One? Do you see the questions? Answer questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Do you see Section Two? Do you see the questions?Answer questions 3, 4, 5, 6.

Read > Study > Understand > Follow

Follow: to go or come after; to engage in, as a calling or way of life; to be or act in accordance with.                                  Merriam Webster Online Dictionary 3/15/2019

When I was in my teens and early twenties, I was intimidated by the Bible. The words and phrases did not make sense. As I grew older and wiser, it dawned on me I would never understand without truly studying instead of just reading the Bible. So that is what I did.

I looked up words I did not know and what meaning they had in the culture when written. I gained a new perspective and hunger for more.

Teach me Lord, the ways of your decrees that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119:33-34 NIV

Decree: an official order given by a person with power or by a government.       Merriam Webster Oneline Dictionary 3/12/2019