THE EAR, EYE, TONGUE’S INTENTIONS AND DESIRES OF THE HEART

THE EAR, EYE TONGUE’S INTENTIONS AND DESIRES OF THE HEART

 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

 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. —James 1:26

             The ear, the eye and the tongue…  The ear— how many times do we “merely listen” to God’s Word without applying what He says/doing what He says/being obedient to what He says?  The eye— how many times do we “see” what we heard, but do not retain His Word long enough to apply/do/obey His Word.  The tongue— His Word is being spoken, but to merely hear is self-deception.  His Word says we are deceiving ourselves without application/doing/obedience.

            Another way where believers can be self deceived is to have tongues that are not bridled properly, but are speaking things that they should not be speaking.  The tongue that is not reined in by the Spirit of God “is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (James 3:5-6).  Yes, it is true.  The tongue can be demonically impacted and hugely destructive.  Just ask Peter— “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Matthew 16:23).  So isn’t that interesting… the deception comes in promoting human concerns, but not the concerns of God!

            So, let me ask you as ask I ask myself— What are the motivations and intents of your heart? (Hebrews 4:12-13).  Why do you think and do what you think and do?  Is it for the promotion of what man desires or what God desires?  The Apostle Paul did say, “Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).  The ear, the eye and the tongue have motivations and intents that come from deep within us— the heart.  Who has my heart?— God, self, somebody else or Satan?  Freedom comes from continuing in His Word with right responses.  May that be true of you and me!

Oh Yes, Dear Father, may my heart be Your’s and may my ears, eyes and tongue have Your intentions and desires.  Oh may this be so more and more by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-816LEY-F9U