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 who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25
There are unlimited ways for Christians to learn the Word of God these days. There are Bible apps, Bible studies, books, podcasts, livestream, conferences, etc. But just knowing what the Bible says will not change your life. We must apply what we learn to our own lives to truly benefit from what we learn.
Committed to Purity– Psalm 119:9saysHow can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. When we are saved, our past is forgiven and forgotten by God. It is a new day. We can move forward, throwing off the shame and guilt of past sins. The consequences may linger but we are a new creature in Christ. What counts is everything from this moment forward. We will still have temptations and struggles, and we will still fail, but our hearts commitment should be to walk in purity as Christ calls us to do. When we have this commitment in our hearts, we can focus on the word of God in our lives and lean on that when trials and temptations come.
Good Attitude- The Word of God is a precious seed that is planted into the soil of the heart. Therefore, it is essential that we have the right attitude toward it. We must come with a gentle, open, and teachable spirit. We must want the Word of God and our relationship with Him to change our lives. If we think we can become a Christian and do not want anything to change in our lives, then we are not ready and neither God, nor His Word, can have an impact on our lives. Through the Bible, preachers, teachers, and other Christians, God sows His truth into our lives. If we are wise, we will listen and allow our lives to be molded by Him. A. W. Tozer said Too many Christians want to enjoy the thrill of feeling right but are not willing to endure the inconvenience of being right.-
When we are Obedient- But be doers of the word, and not hearers only… It is not enough just to “hear” God’s Word we must act upon it. We must be doers. If we fall short and do not act on it, we become self-deceived, and self-deception is the root of hypocrisy. For example, say there is a man who goes to the church meeting, and who listens to the reading of the word, and the expounding of it, and who thinks that that listening has made him a Christian. He deceives himself by thinking that his attendance at public worship, and his hearing of what is read and said there, is enough. He has shut his eyes to the fact that what is read and heard in Church must then be lived and done in life.
God’s Word is full of instructions for us for this broken life we live. It is not to punish us or keep us from having fun in life. His Word is to help us, protect us, guide us, and when applied, it will give us life far more abundant than the life we have been living.
Scripture to Claim:
Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21
