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)
Our FATHER is pleased when the words we read make real changes in our lives. Moves away from self and toward HIM—toward serving others and not ourselves. And what is the evidence that we’ve made a change—that HIS words have made a difference? The evidence is what we do.
James spends a lot of effort in his letter calling me to action.
- He calls me to make an impact for good in the life of a needy person.
- He calls me to send a note offering comfort and help.
- He calls me to share GOD’s word with my neighbors, friends and even my enemies.
- He calls me to turn a sinner (starting with myself) from the error of his way.
James also makes an effort to be inclusive in scope, by putting Abraham and Rahab in the same bucket. James shows we all have an obligation and we all have capabilities—some great, some small—but each of us has a gift. At least one mite to give.
It’s a criteria by which we will be judged—as were Adam, Cain, Miriam— “What have you done?”
The shortest sentence in the section from James 1 above is really profound. James puts it simply: “Do what it says.”
What faith-based action can you and I do today?
Thanks Jim for the pithy reminder “Do what it says”!
Thank you!
May we indeed (in deed) react to what we have been shown in the mirror of the law of liberty!