Day Four James 1:22-25
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. – James 1:22-25 (NLT)
Learn From the Word
Several years after Jesus’ death, His half-brother, James, wrote similar words to those of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. James tells us we must go beyond listening to God’s Word and actually do what it says. In verse 25, he tells us to “look carefully into it.” When we do, we receive blessing! Charles Spurgeon once preached, “I fear we have many such in all congregations; admiring hearers, affectionate hearers, attached hearers, but all the while unblest hearers, because they are not doers of the word.”
Put It Into Practice
When we hear words from Jesus and James about being doers of the word, we can easily get caught up in a works-based religion. It’s important to remember what Jesus said is the greatest commandment of all: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. . . A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Ask God to make this the filter through which you hear and do everything.