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.
James 1:22 (NLT) But dont just listen to
Gods word. You must do what it says. Otherwise,
you are only fooling 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
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]
COMMENTARY
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
CLOSING PEARL
Loving God with Your Mind
Mark 12:30 states: You must love the
Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,
all your mind, and all your strength (NLT).
One way to restate this verse is love God with
all your talk, all your feelings, all your
thinking, and all your doing.
Although every person is called to do all
of these things, God created each person to be
stronger in one area. That means God has shaped you
more naturally to be a talker (heart), feeler
(soul), thinker (mind), or doer (strength).
Today lets look at the thinkers, who
most readily love God with their minds.
Do you know that you can love God with
your intellect? When you develop and strengthen
your mind, its an act of worship.
One way you can recognize a thinker is by
this: When thinkers become believers, they fall in
love with the Bible.
Psalm 119:97 says, How I love your
law! I think about it all day long (GNT).
There is no other book in the world like
the Bible! It has the answers to lifes
questions, including why God put you here on earth.
We need thinkers - because the world
needs consideration. Somebody has to be thinking
through complex issues and the implications of what
the rest of us are doing. We need people who
think through tough problems and bring solutions
to the table.
But thinkers need to be careful to also
practice humility. The Bible says, Dont be
impressed with your own wisdom (Proverbs 3:7 NLT).
Why? Because God is God, and youre not.
Humility is a choice. James 4:10 says,
Humble yourselves before the Lord (NIV).
Humility is something you do to yourself. And its
not denying your strengths; its being honest
about your weaknesses.
Thinkers also need to be careful to
practice what they know. If you know it, then do it!
James 1:22 says, Do not merely listen to the
word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it
says (NIV).
Your personality is unique and precious
to God. When you use it to serve him with all
your heart, soul, mind, and strength, you bring
him glory! [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
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
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
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
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
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
