James 1: 22-25
A person who shouts, “Amen, Pastor, it’s in the book!” but slanders a fellow member on the parking lot is a person who looked into the Word of God and got excited about who it said she was, but leaving the atmosphere of the anointing was not transformed by it. This is a perfect scenario of James 1:22-25.
The Amplified Bible helps us clearly understand James’ teaching on what I call spiritual hypocrisy with little commentary from me.
Verse 22a – But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts]. It is not enough just to hear God’s Word, but it is necessary to live the truths we learned every solitary day.
Verse 22b – and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning]. The old folk of my day used to say, “There ought to be some sign.” If you accepted the Word as truth from God to be received in your heart, it ought to show in your Christian lifestyle. Otherwise, it excited your emotions but did not settle in your soul.
Verse 22c – deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. When you hear the Word of God and live contrary to it, you are only fooling yourself. Everyone else can see the contradiction.
Verse 23-24 – For if anyone only listens to the word ]without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. The Bible is a mirror that reflects your spiritual condition/spiritual maturity level. “A mirror shows the reality. It exposes what you look like, but it can’t change you. To look into a mirror is a call to action” (Tony Evans). It is not enough to have mental assent of the Holy Scriptures. You must obey the will of God concerning you expressed in them.
Verse 25 – But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience]. If you want to be blessed, OBEY GOD! It is that simple, but not easy. That is okay. Do the hard thing. Obey God and you will be blessed beyond all that you could possibly ask or think. God rewards obedience to HIS Word.
Suggested Assignment: Make time to study God’s Word so that you know what it says. Decide to obey. If you struggle with obeying the Word of God, pray and ask God to help you submit to His will and way expressed in the Bible. Let me repeat: God rewards obedience to His Word. You will be blessed, happy, to be envied. #Join the conversation.
Thank you for this word! It’s certainly timely!!
There is a deafness in our world to the word of God that people think will serve as an excuse for disobedience to it. It saddens me when I look on the television and see yet another black man murdered in front of our eyes. Then there are those like the “evangelicals” who say they believe the word of God, yet stay silent and support those in high positions who do nothing but insight hatred, bigotry and racism. James declares that you can’t have it both ways! Either you are changed and transformed by His word and the cross of Calvary or you are in violation of His Word choosing to be listeners and not doers. In Hell you will lift your eyes.
Amen to God’s word. Thank you
Dr. Haire for this weeks blog. God’s word, the holy spirit, and most of all, God is real. I’ve took to notice to the reaction of men after God’s anointing power have swept over a service, conference or meetings, shouting, praising, etc…and still yet men reactions remains the same as they didn’t allow God’s word/spirit penitrate in the hearts.
As a living witness of today, God’s word, obedience to his word(faith action) is blessing me. Dr. Haire I join with your given suggested assignment and anticipating Gods miraculous blessing that come in so many various way.
God Bless you and all your readers!
This was a good healing meal. Thank you for sharing sound doctrine. Let the church live the amen.
Thank you for this word. I’ve seen so much contradiction during this pandemic but what I realized is, I have to stay focused on me and making sure that I am living the way I’m supposed to and pray for those that are struggling because we all have our struggles. Very timely message Dr. Haire…be blessed.
Thank you sharing the reality of the truth of God’s WORD.
Thank you for sharing this medicine for my personal introspect offered in His word.
I want/need to be transformed by renewing my mind and not by simply an “in church” verbal affirmation of a truth.
LORD search my heart!
What has touched me during these last months is how upset and angry people are about their rights and having to submit to restrictions. I guess that goes back to Adam and Eve in the garden and Cain’s offering. Just like little children, our heavenly Father is taking care of us when He tells us what is right and good along with what’s wrong, through His word and Jesus’s example. Government can’t help much if we only obey what we like. It’s tragic when those who enforce the law aren’t obeying it or using common sense. I am so thankful that this time has simplified my life and I am more at peace and aware of my blessings. Thank you, for sharing these verses.
Puts things into perspective for both the saved and unsaved. Thank you for always sharing and helping people grow closer to God.
#ONTIMEWORD
ALL I GOT TO SAY IS
THIS RIGHT HERE! OO WEE JESUS
A very timely word.
Good message… one we all need especially during this time. Obedience is about faith and believing. Thank you, Lord!
Great article, Dr. So many christians, Sunday by Sunday, report to the house of God and sit up under the word and not obey it from Monday to Saturday night. A blessed Word.
This is a “right now” word, Dr.
Thank you Dr. Haire for sharing the word of God.iam so blesse by reading it this is food for the soul.no it is not easy to obey God word but iam leaning to ask for his help. I’m strong and wise in my life Walking with the lord
AWESOME WORD!!
I’m 71 years old and I’m still finding holes in my growth in the Lord. Daily, I must surrender and renew my knowledge of Him.
Dr Haire like Francine S I too am 70 yrs old. As I read God Word and get a new revelation each time I read it. I want to be a doer as well as a hearer of the Word of God, but I find myself leaning to me own understanding and not totally trusting God in certain areas of my life. You talk about the mirror, so when I look into the mirror, I want to see the reality of who I am and who I represent and serve, but at times I do fail short. I want what is not like God when I look into the mirror to be exposed. If its not what it should look like, then I know its not pleasing to God, and if its not pleasing God I want to change. I do want to be blessed, and I believe that only come by OBEY GOD! It is that simple, but not so easy sometime.