But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:22-25
In this Scripture, James implores us to be doers of the Word and not just hearers. We do not learn the Bible simply to know facts. We learn it to grow in our faith and learn to become obedient. Great blessing accrues to those who are obedient. So be a doer and not merely a hearer.
The description given for someone who merely hears but does not obey the Bible is stark. James says that person is like someone who looks into a mirror and forgets what they look like. That statement seems nonsensical on its face. What is James trying to say?
As Christians, we need to be constantly exposed to the Word of God. We need to look deeply into it by reading it, studying it, and by hearing the Bible preached and taught regularly. If we don’t practice this, we begin to forget who we truly are in Christ. We forget our true identity and what it means to be a child of God.
So, Christian, read God’s Word. Study it deeply. Learn what the Bible says and do it.
Tony French
mrtonyfrench 