-August 2, 2020-
Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,
Be Doers Of The Word, Not Hearers Only-
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the law of liberty and continues in it, is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one is blessed in what he does.”
(James 1:22-25).
James is a very practical in his epistle. He speaks clearly and directly, and he pulls no punches as it were. His desire is that the saints practice the Word and apply it to their lives. He speaks of being doers the Word not hearers only.
We are only deceiving ourselves when we are not doers but hearers only. The Word of God is so practical and tells what to do and what not to do. We do not want our will but God’s will. When we read and study the Word we should always ask ourselves three questions: what does it say, what does it mean, and what does it mean to me. If we do the first two but not the third, we are missing out on the key element.
If we are hearers only, we gain head knowledge and get puffed up; but when we are doers of the Word but receive it humbly and apply it to our lives. James states the difference between being a forgetful hearer and an effectual doer. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to convict us, challenge us, and call us to change and be more like Christ.
James speaks of someone seeing himself in a mirror and walking away and forgetting what kind of man he was. Mirrors in NT times were made of copper and it was not easy to see oneself clearly as we do with our modern mirrors. The mirror may tell us what to do then we must choose to do it. If we choose to do nothing that is on us. The exact same is true in regard to obeying and practicing the Word.
So, the choice is yours. It is between you and God. He will never force us or coerce us in any way. Let us choose to be doers of the Word daily. It is a clear and simple choice we must make. There is no room for excuses.
Have a blessed day being doers of the Word. Stay safe and healthy.
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 