James 1:22 - Living the Word!
James 1:22 (ESV) Be doers of the word, and
not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
INTRODUCTION
It is important to listen to what God's Word
says, but it is much more important to obey it, to
'do' what it says. We can measure the
effectiveness of our Bible study time by the effect it has
on our behavior and attitudes. Do you put into
action what you have studied? [Life Application
SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
God Wants You to Do, Not Just to Hear
God wants you to focus on doing what he
tells you to do, not on just hearing what he tells
you to do. He calls you to be an active follower
of Jesus, not just a passive listener.
The Bible says, Be doers of the word,
and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves
(James 1:22 ESV).
The truth is, you can listen to sermons
and study the Bible for decades. But if you
never do anything about what youve heard and
learned, youre deceiving yourself and not really
growing more like Christ.
D.L. Moody, an influential evangelist and
Christian educator of the late 19th century, once
said, The Bible was not given to increase our
knowledge, but to change our lives. Its a manual
for living.
The Bible says, All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV).
That verse points to four things about
Gods Word. It shows you the path to walk on;
that's doctrine. It shows you where you got off the
path; that's reproof. It shows you how to get back
on the path; that's correction. And it shows
you how to stay on the path; that's instruction
in righteousness. Gods Word is practical,
real-world truth.
The problem is, most of us know a lot
more than we actually put into practice. You say
you believe in forgiveness, but do you forgive
the people whove hurt you? You say you
believe in waiting on God, but are you patient? God
doesnt want you to just take notes and say you
believe things about his Word. He wants you to be a
doer of his Word.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:20: Teach
them to do everything I have commanded you
(GW). He didnt say, Teach them to know
everything I commanded you or Teach them to think
about everything I commanded you. He said,
Teach them to do.
Dont fool yourself into thinking that
hearing Gods Word also means youre applying
Gods Word. Make plans to do something about what
you hear so that you can grow into the person
God created you to be. [Daily Devotional by Rick
Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
COMMENTARY
Truth in Action
Lets imagine for a moment that
youre very hungry, so you go into a restaurant and
ask for a menu. You look it over and carefully
read the descriptions of the various things
theyre serving. But is that going to satisfy your
hunger? Will you be able to put the menu down and
say, Thank you. I feel much better now?
Or what if you memorized the contents of
every single item on the menu? You know it so well
that you could stand in front of the restaurant
and say, Ask me whatever you want. Ive
memorized the menu. Thats fine, but it wont
fill your stomach. You need to order the food and
then eat it.
Its the same thing when it comes to
the Word of God. We not only need to hear it,
but we also need to do it. We need to apply what
weve heard.
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).
In the original language, the act of
looking in a mirror speaks of an attentive scrutiny.
This is a picture of someone who sees their
reflection in a mirror, realizes that something needs
to be done, but doesnt act on it.
When we hear the Word of God, we should
allow Gods Holy Spirit to take that truth and
bring it home to our hearts. Truth acted on brings
more truth. But failure to respond to the truth
ultimately will result in the loss of truth. Gods
Word becomes a millstone if we dont make it a
milestone. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
Formula for Personal Growth
Growing in Christ involves far more than
just attending church, tithing, and listening to
a sermon. In fact, many believers do these yet
remain stagnant in their walk. There are two
elements necessary for us to become more like Jesus:
instruction and involvement.
The first of these, learning truth, is
vital to a healthy walk with God. Our Savior
proved the importance of instruction by devoting
much of His time on earth to it. The apostle Paul
is another example, as he wrote letters to
educate Christians about godliness.
So how can we gain knowledge and
understanding? One of the most important and effective ways
is to read the Word of God. Scripture instructs
us that just as newborns crave milk, we are to
desire His Word so that we might grow. I pray your
spiritual thirst will become insatiable.
Yet simply listening to the truth does
not mean that we've acquired it. I know many
people who love attending Bible studies and
expanding their knowledge base, but their lives remain
unchanged. Just as today's passage teaches, we have to
apply the Word to our lives. Even so, actual
growth requires more than merely inputting
information. It requires action. James 2:26 states, "For
just as the body without the spirit is dead, so
also faith without works is dead."
Are we careless hearers, deceived into
thinking that we're growing? Or are we listening
intently and abiding in the truth? If we're truly
maturing, our lives will be increasingly Christlike,
and our desires will align more closely with
God's heart. Make sure that you are listening and
responding to His truth. [In Touch Daily Devotional by
Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org]
EXAMPLE
John and Judas are representatives of those
who profess to be Christ's followers. Both these
disciples had the same opportunities to study and
follow the divine Pattern. Both were closely
associated with Jesus and were privileged to listen to
His teaching. Each possessed serious defects of
character; and each had access to the divine grace that
transforms character. But while one in humility was
learning of Jesus, the other revealed that he was not
a doer of the word, but a hearer only. One,
daily dying to self and overcoming sin, was
sanctified through the truth; the other, resisting the
transforming power of grace and indulging selfish
desires, was brought into bondage to Satan. AA558
ONE LINER
The people must understand that it is not
the hearers of the Word but the doers of the
Word that will have eternal life. EV344
CLOSING THOUGHT
Hearers of the Word will be doers of the
Word IF they have an active, growing relationship
with Christ.
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Mark 12:30 - The First and Great Commandment.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210510-0859.html
James 1:22 - Living the Word.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200421-0954.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
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
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
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
