Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 113

April 23;       James 1:21;       113/260(II);       ‘A Saved Soul’

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

The Lord wants us to live holy lives.  Once we become a Christian, we desire to live holy as well.  This is not some legalistic mandate from the Lord.  This, because we love Jesus and are so grateful to Him for everything that He has done for us, becomes a priority in our lives.  We never want to hinder someone from turning to Jesus based on our conduct.  Psalm 119:9 teaches that a young man can live holy by making the Word of God a priority in their life.  As we spend quality time in the Word, our faith grows, which helps our resolve to live as the Lord teaches us in the Word.  Our Lord Jesus has been so good to us, the desire for improper behavior and indeed its attraction gets weaker in our lives.  ‘Meekness’ means to be teachable.  Maybe you thought you could never be over temptations that you have yielded to for so long.  Humbly know that since you are a Christian, the Word of God has the power and the Holy Spirit in you and upon you has the power to set you free.  All we have to do is be desirous to live right.  ‘Implanted word’ means when the Word of God is planted in our spirit as we read it and as the Word renews our mind, it will begin to grow, making a greater and greater impact on our lives.  ‘Save’ is the Greek word sozo which is a very important and powerful word.  It means that if we will purpose to live right and be teachable God’s Word will heal our soul (sozo).  God’s Word will make our soul whole (sozo).  God’s Word will rescue, protect and preserve our soul (sozo).  God’s Word will will enable us to always do well (sozo).  He wants us to live right and is with us to make this happen.