Living Epistle

James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The proof of the pudding is in the tasting. The proof of biblical wisdom and understanding is in the living. To simply know the truth doesn't mean a whole lot, to live the truth is everything.

I want you to be the kind of person who reads the Word of God, understands it, applies it, and reaps the rewards of doing it. I want you to be blessed in your life. I want you to experience God’s blessings that come from obedience in your home, in your marriage, in your finances, at work, at school and where life takes you. James talks about this connection between God’s Word and our obedience to it that results in blessings.

We can hear the Word of God every day, three times a day, and it will not bring about a benefit unless we act upon it. We are to move beyond listening alone and do what God's Word tells us to do, and keep on  doing it.

Being a doer of the Word starts right where you are. It starts in your relationships, family, workplace and home. Sometimes, it may be difficult, but you do it anyway, because God expects it from you and says so in His Word.

James gives us a great object lesson to help us understand how we are to approach God’s Word. The purpose of a mirror is to evaluate ourselves based on what we see. We use them to evaluate our appearance.

We look into the mirror for evaluation. This whole evaluation process with the mirror may take a while. We stand in front of the mirror the whole time. The mirror helps us to evaluate what we look like on the outside.

In the same way the mirror helps us to evaluate how we look on the outside, God’s Word helps us evaluate what we look like on the inside. When you approach God’s Word correctly, it helps you see things about yourself that need attention.

Every believer should be growing in s ft grace, maturing in the faith, walking in spirit and truth, and bringing forth the good works of righteousness which God Himself has prepared for us to do, in the power of the Holy Spirit, as we abide in Christ and He in us. Every believer should become a doer I’ll the Word and not simply a hearer only.

Indeed, we are encouraged to be quick to hear, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, but we should also be wise in our actions and circumspect in our reactions by being slow to speak and slow to anger, for angry men do not achieve the righteousness of God!!!

Father, thank You for this day and the wise teachings of Your Word through James. Let Your abundant blessings flow over my friend and family today. Lord, we realize how important it is to not only have a genuine faith by trusting in the finished work at Calvary, but to be a fruitful Christian in word and in deed. Lord, keep us from worldly ways and from slipping back in the carnality of fleshly living. May we grow in grace and in a knowledge of the You as we abide in Your Word. Lord, may we bring forth much fruit to Your praise and glory today.

Father, we love You. Amen !