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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