James 1:22 - Living the Word.
James 1:22 (NIV): Do not merely listen to
the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it
says.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Lets imagine together that you want to
get serious about your physical health. You buy
a book about exercise and tell a friend about
it. Its going to change my life, you
say.
Then six months later you see your friend
again, and youre still in the same shape.
Its the greatest book Ive ever read, you
say. I underlined parts of it, memorized whole
sections, and even started a study group about it.
But you never practiced what the book
taught, so it didnt change you.
Do you find yourself doing the same thing
with Gods Word? You may mark your Bible, but
do you let your Bible mark you?
The book of James says, Do not merely
listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do
what it says (James 1:22 NIV).
To receive the blessings of the Bible,
you have to respond to it and let it change
you.
If you havent practiced intentionally
responding to Gods Word, it might be hard to know
where to start. Here are some questions you can
ask yourself as you read a passage of
Scripture:
Does this show me a sin I need to
confess or an attitude I need to change?
Does God give me a command to obey or
an example to follow?
Is there a prayer in this passage of
Scripture that I can pray for myself or for other
people?
Start with these questions. As you put
them into practice, youll soon find that
youre not the same person.
Theres a translation of the Bible
called The Living Bible. Thats what each of us
should be - a living Bible. The best translation of
Scripture is when you translate it into your life and
let it change you. [Daily Devotional by Rick
Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
COMMENTARY
Just as a mirror reflects what you look
like on the outside, Gods Word reflects what
youre like on the inside.
Have you ever seen yourself in the Bible?
Hebrews 4:12 says that Gods Word discerns your
hearts thoughts and intents. Thats a reason many
people dont read the Bible. Theyre afraid to
look into the mirror of Gods Word and see
themselves as they really are.
If youre ready to use Gods Word as
a mirror into your own soul, the book of James
gives you three practical ways to do this.
First, read it. But dont just read it
casually. Read it carefully, like the person in James
1:25 who looks intently into the perfect
law (CSB). We all have just glanced into a
mirror, walked quickly away, and forgotten all the
details of what wed seen. But God wants us to
spend time gazing into the mirror of his Word.
Next, review it. That same verse in James
talks about the person who doesnt just look
once into Gods Word but continues to do
so (James 1:25 EHV). This person comes to
Gods Word over and over. Jesus told his
followers: If you continue in my word, you are truly
my disciples (John 8:31 NRSV). And Psalm
119:97 says, How I love your teachings! I think
about them all day long (NCV).
Finally, remember the Bible. James 1:25
talks about people who, after reading Gods
Word, remember what they have heard. Nothing will
do more for your spiritual life than developing
the habit of memorizing Scripture. Psalm 119:11
says, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against thee (KJV).
Another way to remember Gods Word is
by writing down what God teaches you. Hebrews
2:1 says, Therefore we ought to give the more
earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest
at any time we should let them slip (KJV).
Next time God teaches you something during a
sermon or a devotional time, write it down. Give it
earnest heed so that it doesnt slip away.
Remember that person who gazes in the
mirror and then uses it to change himself? You can
be that person when you reflect on Gods Word
by reading, reviewing, and remembering it.
[Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
If you want to genuinely grow in
spiritual maturity, it is not enough to simply be
instructed by the Word of God. You may love going to
church or listening to Christian radio programs.
You might talk about everything you hear and
assume you're growing because your knowledge is
increasing. However, if you don't actually grow closer
to God by allowing His Word to change you from
the inside out, your head will merely continue
to fill with information. You might even sound
like a godly person who is admired for the
ability to quote chapter and verse. But if you don't
take the next step and allow God to touch others'
lives through you, you're missing the point.
Spiritual growth is the result of
practicing the truth you receive from God. He wants you
to give away what He gives you--that is, by
loving and serving others and sharing the truth of
the gospel. Our example is Jesus, who said that
He did not come to be served, but to serve even
the lowest outcasts in His society (Matt.
20:28). He could have exalted Himself and spent all
His time preaching and teaching. Instead, Jesus
did only the Father's will, which was to reveal
His heart of love to a broken world. The Lord
sacrificially involved Himself in people's lives, and He
calls us to follow in His footsteps.
God's plan is to reach the world through
you. If that weren't the case, He would have
taken you to heaven as soon as you were saved. But
you are here for a purpose - to live out
Christ's life alongside hurting people who
desperately need to experience His love. [In Touch Daily
Devotional by Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org]
Have you ever had one of those days when
it seemed as though everyone was smiling, maybe
even laughing, at you? Then you saw yourself in
the mirror and discovered why. You had something
stuck in your teeth. No wonder they were smiling.
The mirror just told you the truth about
yourself, and you saw what everyone else was seeing.
Then you had a choice: ignore the problem and
leave it there, or clean yourself up.
The Bible is a lot like a mirror; it
tells us the truth about ourselves. James wrote,
But dont just listen to Gods word. You
must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only
fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word
and dont obey, it is like glancing at your
face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away,
and forget what you look like (James
1:22"24 NLT).
It is not simply a matter of hearing
Gods Word; it is doing what it says. The Bible
must be our model for how we think and live.
Problems will happen, family conflicts will happen,
temptations will happen, sickness will happen, or
something else may come our way. We cant control
that. But if we are in Gods Word and walking
closely with Him and in fellowship with His people,
then we will have the resources we need to face
those challenges as they come. And challenges will
come our way Just do your part, and then watch
how the Lord will bless you. [Greg Laurie from
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
CLOSING THOUGHT
It's been pointed out that just as
sitting in a garage doesn't make you a car, sitting
in church doesn't make you a Christian. In the
same vein, listening to solidly biblical sermons
doesn't make you a follower of Jesus. Neither does
reading God's Word religiously. After all, as James
pointed out, knowledge without action is useless.
Knowing who God is and how much He loves you without
loving Him and obeying Him in return is empty.
Knowing what God demands and desires from His people
but not doing any of those things is
meaningless. Knowing calls for a practical response. The
person who truly believes God's Word is not the one
who studies it the longest or who argues most
eloquently on its behalf. The person who truly believes
God's Word is the one who incorporates it into his
or her life.
We are to do what God's Word tells us to
do, and we are to shun all that His Word
designates as sin. That is how we express our faith. We
deceive ourselves when we merely nod along in
agreement with God's truth but do nothing in response.
[Being Still With God Every Day by Henry Blackaby]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
James 1:22 - Living the Word! " updated:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20050706-1035.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW (Live
Series):
https://www.discoverhopeawakens.com/webinar-registration-21585698406854
