Daily Devotional

-August 2, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-Be Doers of the Word Not Just Hearers-

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).

James, the half brother of Jesus, became a great teacher of the Word and leader in the early church. His writings are practical, convicting, and encouraging to every believer in Christ. He told like it is, and held nothing back. In our society today, he would be considered opinionated and not politically corrected. We need more men and women like James today!

James describes two types of people in the church: hearers and doers. The former come to church, hear the messages, read their Bibles, but make little progress in their relationship with Christ. They hear the Word but don’t obey it and practice it. They have big ears but small feet, meaning they don’t put it to use in their lives. It goes in one ear and out the next. The Word doesn’t reach the heart nor the feet. They are undersized underachievers.

Those who are doers of the Word are the opposite. They hear the Word, take it to heart, obey it, apply it to their lives, and use it to help others. This is what we should all must strive for daily: to be sponges of the Scriptures, absorbing the truth and using the water of the Word to refresh others. The late preacher and teacher J. Vernon McGee used to say, “this is where the rubber meets the road.”

Experts on communication and education tell us that you don’t really learn something until you practice it and are able to explain to others so they can understand it and do the same thing. Are you merely a hearer of the Word or are you a doer?

May the Lord convict us and challenge us in our walk with Christ. We can only fully grow to full maturity if we are doers of the Word. The Word we must ascertain, the Word in our hearts must remain, and the Word we hear we must retain. When we do, we will be effectual doers not just forgetful hearers.

Have a blessed day putting the Word into practice. Let’s be doers not just hearers. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean