Verse: James 4:17
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Application:
It is never a minor
thing to know God's will and not do it. God calls this sin. We can make excuses
for our lack of obedience: “I'm just not ready yet” or “I'll do it later!” or
“I don't think it will make a difference” or “I can't afford to!” We rationalize,
we procrastinate; yet, in God's eyes, rationalization and procrastination are
nothing more than disobedience. At times we deceive ourselves into thinking
that good intentions equal obedient actions. They do not. A good intention
without corresponding activity is disobedience. When we encounter God and He
gives us a direction, it is not enough to write down the date in our spiritual
journal, or even to tell our friends and church of our “decision.” God's call
is not to “make a decision” but to obey! Deciding to obey is not equal to
obeying (Matthew 21:28-31)! Loudly affirming the necessity of obedience is not
the same as obeying (Luke 6:46). Making commitments, even publicly, is not the
same as obeying our Lord. Substituting our own good works is not the same as
obeying.