Doer of the Word

Today we complete John chapter four. How hard it must have been for Jesus to leave the revival in Samaria, where people were responding to the Gospel and getting saved. Why did He go to Galilee? Apparently Jesus was sensing increased opposition in His own country -v.44. One commentator suggests that He wanted to return to Cana (v.46 -where He turned the water into wine) to cultivate the 'seed' that He had planted there. Perhaps the best reason for His return to Galilee, overall, was the fact that Isaiah had predicted Messiah would go into the dark region called 'Galilee' (see Isaiah 9:1-2). Jesus returned to Galilee because He understood what the Word said about His ministry. The Scriptures to Jesus were not only predictive, but also directive. That is, when Jesus read the Scriptures, He found not only predictions about His ministry, but direction for His ministry. He knew that the prophecies written about Him must be fulfilled by Him. Thus Jesus was not only a hearer of the Word, He was the supreme example of the Doer of the Word. James told us to not only be hearers of the Word but also be Doers of the Word (James 1:22). The great need in the church today is NOT another Bible study. We don't need another "Evangelism Training Program". We don't need another seminar on 'How to Pray.' We simply need to pray and then go out and witness to our lost friends. I'll never forget what John Maxwell said one time. He said that at his church, they were going to begin a 'door to door' visitation/witnessing campaign on Wednesday night during the Wednesday night services. But they were going to make it optional. So he presented it to them: "Next Wednesday, you can either meet here at 7 pm and go out with us on visitation or you can sign up for a 26 week study in the book of Leviticus." Nearly everyone responded, "Uhh, uhh, sign me up for the Bible study." Now, neither John nor I dare take away any significance from the book of Leviticus, but this just goes to show how reluctant we are to be Doers of the Word. We don't mind hearing it, and filling our notebooks full of notes, but we sure don't want to obey it. God is looking for some 'Doers' in these last days. How about it Christian? Will you be obedient to the Word?