James 1:19-27
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.
By: Rev. Lauren
Parliament
James 1:19-27
(19) My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
(20) because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
(21)Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
(22) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
(23) Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
(24) and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
(25) 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.
(26) Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
(27) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Listening Informs Our Actions
The passage starts with listening just like our adventures with the Lord should start with us listening to Him. Adventures are amazing. But if we do not listen first, we will not know what He is saying. We will not know where He is guiding us! Listening is the key to success in a relationship, especially with the Lord our God!
The second piece of the puzzle is knowing Scripture. In this passage, James refers to Scripture three times: twice as “the word” and once as the “perfect law.” These terms point to the same truth, referring to the moral and ethical teachings revealed in both the Old and New Testaments. The law given in the Old Testament finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. As we come to know God’s law, we come to know Christ and His expectations for our lives. However, simply reading the Word is not enough. To truly know it, we must put it into practice and experience its transforming power. Genuine understanding occurs when the Word becomes the guide for how we live each day.
My dog, Freckles, and I do a lot of hiking, and having a reliable map and GPS tracker is essential. These days, there is an amazing app that provides both. I rely on it completely whenever we are on a trail because it helps ensure we stay on the right path.
Hiking trails can be confusing, especially when animal paths look similar to the actual trail. This can make it difficult to know which way to go. As you can see from the adventure Freckles and I were on in the photo, the trail was very hard to see. It was an extremely challenging route to navigate, but thanks to the app and Freckles’ nose, we made it through successfully.
Much like the trail in the photo, the paths of our lives are not always clearly marked. We may face uncertainty, obstacles, and moments when it is difficult to know which direction to take. However, just as this app guides me to the right destination when I am hiking, God’s Word guides us through life. When I am on the trail, this app serves as my personal guide, just as the Word serves as our guide each day.
This principle is comparable to the role of the Word of God in our lives. In this passage, James teaches that listening to and obeying the Word of God go hand in hand. We cannot truly hear the Word without being convicted to act upon it. Because Christ dwells in our hearts and minds, He should be guiding us to live according to His Word. Reading Scripture is not simply a task to complete or a box to check. Spending time with the Lord requires much more than mere reading. We must allow His Word to shape our thoughts, direct our actions, and transform our lives. As we submit ourselves to Christ, He faithfully guides our hearts and minds according to His will. Therefore, we should eagerly desire not only to hear the Word of God but also to put it into practice. Our goal is not to be like the person who looks at their reflection in a mirror and immediately forgets what they have seen, but to be doers of the Word whose lives reflect the transforming work of Christ.
I challenge each of us to examine our hearts and souls and ask: How do I need to listen more intentionally and act with greater purpose?
Prayer:
Lord, remove the distractions that compete for my attention and help me focus on Your Word. Show me the call to action that You are placing before me. Help me hear what You are truly saying, rather than the interpretations I impose on Your words. Teach me to seek You first so that I may faithfully apply Your truth to my life. Help me listen with my heart, my mind, and my ears. Draw me closer to You through the power of Your Word and transform me from the inside out. May others see You reflected in my words, my actions, and the love I show to those around me. In all that I say and do, may You be glorified. Amen.