James 1:22-23 (NLT) 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.
We've considered how the "Word of the Lord endures forever" in Isaiah 40. Today's verse comes from the book of James which some have labeled the "Proverbs" of the New Testament. The book is full biblical applications for the Christian life.
Most of us went to church yesterday or over the weekend and heard a message from "God's Word". How intently did we or do we normally listen. Did we go from there or from our devotions this morning with a mindset of applying something to our lives? Bringing verse 23 into perspective, how many of us looked in a mirror this morning then walked away to face the day without doing something to our face or hair.
John MacArthur writes, "Looks doesn't refer to a casual glance but to a careful, cautious, observant stare. This person is taking a good, long look at himself. Hearers of the word are not necessarily superficial or casual in their approach to scripture. They can be serious students of the Word." The question is what are they what are we doing with it?
May we be students of God's enduring Word, and may we further be doers of it that our faith may blossom, bloom, grow and produce fruit.
In Christ,
Mike
Mike
Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
James 1:19-25 (NLT) Listening and Doing
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
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.
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