But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25).

You can’t just glance at the Word.

You can’t skim it

or skip through it

or toy with it.

It is not a book for light reading and coffee table perusing.

It takes work and demands your respect.

My favorite novel of all time is A Tale of Two Cities.  I very rarely read it.  It’s not that I’m a masochist.  It’s simply that reading the book is a heavy investment.  It takes time and energy and a sweaty cognitive brow.

And it’s totally worth it.

How much more so the Word of God that gives freedom?

I won’t deny it—the Bible is a tough read.  Sure, there are easy parts.  The bits where he tells me I’m his friend and his son and his treasure and that he loves me and will never leave me—those I can read all day.

The parts where he points out my propensity for fearing and falling and failing…those I could just as soon skip.

Except I can’t.

If I’m ever going to be the man that he seems to think I can be, I have to do more than skim—I must stare intently.  I have to do more than read—I must do what it says.

What about you, Beloved?  Will you skim today, or will you spend the sweat to dig deep and do?

It’s a new week, Beloved—make it a worthy one.