Hearing and doing the Word of God are intended to go hand in hand. Doing, or acting without understanding the guidance of the Word can lead to missteps. On the other hand, hearing the Word, without understanding and acting on it, has its own consequences. James has some God breathed thoughts for us in his first chapter.
“22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.”
Some of the things we need to do when we are following the Word of God is to listen, then understand what Abba is calling us to. We also need to count the cost.
In the back of A Little Drop of Love, there are thirty pages of personal and ministry application. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only biography with an application section.
Why an application section? It is less about the life of Miss Mears, and all about the Biblical principles she mined over a lifetime. So much of learning anything is about putting it into practice. The best way to do that, is by one life touching another life, helping to lead by experience. That is how apprentices learn their trade or craft. This is also the idea of discipleship. Jesus literally walked and lived with his disciples for three years.
Most often we think this has to be in person. But that is not always possible. With a biography, we can contemplate a life well lived of any age, like that of Henrietta Mears. James makes it clear that hearing and doing the word of God brings blessings that are missed when we don’t.
The application section, is an opportunity to personally reflect on a life of woman who was clearly a doer and not only a hearer. The open-ended questions invite interaction with the Word of God, to be better doers of the Word, not hearers only.
With technology and the change in culture, it is difficult to follow her same practices. We need to look around then ask: how do I apply these eternal, biblical practices in the 21st century?”
For example, there is a set of questions about counting the cost:
- “At what points in her life did Teacher stop to count the cost of her choices?
- Do you see others around her weighing what it could mean for them to engage in increased Kingdom work? What “price” did her grandparents “pay” to serve the Kingdom?
- What will it mean for you to invest your life for the Kingdom of God?” [p. 142]
Henrietta Mears knew the importance of both hearing and doing the Word of God. The Following segment is the end of the introduction in the book.
“The people who were close to her proved to be transformed. But to a person, they conveyed that it was her love for Jesus Christ, his love for them, and the power of the Holy Spirit that marked them. Henrietta Mears helped lead them deeper into their personal relationships with Christ. “To know Christ and to make Him known” is what God called her to do. That is the motto she held to, and that is what she did.
My hope and prayer are that you will meet the Henrietta C. Mears whom I and so many others came to love. There is only one Henrietta Mears. There is only one you. May her life inspire you to be the best you God intended from before the beginning of time (Ps 139).” [pxii]
Our Creator is continually inviting everyone into a personal relationship of hearing and doing. I believe it is the best kind of life long apprenticeship. Will you count the cost?
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**For the month of February,
A Little Drop of Love Henrietta Mears, How She Helped Change a Generation and You Can Too,
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