January 24 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 24—James 1:21

²¹ Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Devotional:

What do you receive when you do "receive with meekness the implanted Word"? You receive Spiritual life and power, for "the implanted Word … is able to save your souls." It is not for naught that we call the Word a "means of grace." People tend not just to be "looking for love in all the wrong places;" even believers tend to look for the life and power of the Holy Spirit in all the wrong places.

Who can deny that we greatly need the powerful working of the Holy Spirit? The source of the life and power that we need is Jesus Christ, who was crucified for sinners and is now resurrected and exalted. The agent who communicates the blessings that Christ has won for his people is the Holy Spirit. The means that the Holy Spirit uses to communicate these blessings is his Sword, the Word of God. The instrument that receives these blessings is faith. And "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ" (Rom. 10:17).

Of the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul said, "And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the Word of God, which is at work in you believers" (1 Thess. 2:13). "The Word of God … is at work in you believers." That's another way of saying "the Holy Spirit is at work in you believers.

Maybe you're saying, "My faith is a sham. I'm double-minded, divided in heart, and two-faced with God." You need Jesus Christ to apply his salvation to you by his wonder-working Spirit. Ask him for it, and look for it where he has promised to give it. "Receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your soul."

Maybe you're saying, "'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:24, NIV). You need Jesus Christ to apply his salvation to you by his wonder-working Spirit. Ask him for it and look for it where he has promised to give it. "Receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your soul."

Maybe you're saying, I need the wisdom to face my trials in a godly way and the strength to persevere through them. You need Jesus Christ to apply his salvation to you by his wonder-working Spirit. Ask him for it, and look for it where he has promised to give it. "Receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your soul."

"I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
as I walk, let me walk close to Thee."

Click here for background on the author of Are You For Real?: Meditations in the Epistle of James for Secret or Family Worship.