But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror.
For he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
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Our Sunday School Class is studying James 'scripture by scripture',and I wanted to share what God's Word has said to me.
It is not sufficient, however, to receive the Word; one must respond to it in active obedience.
The command is clear: Do not merely listen to the Word.....Do what it says.
One must 'become' or 'keep on becoming a doer of the Word and not just a hearer.
The growing number of sermon-sippers who flit from one doctrinal dessert to another like helpless hummingbirds are deceiving themselves.
Deceiving is from a verb used in the NT on here and in Colossians 2:4
Paralogizomi means 'to cheat or deceive by false reasoning.'
The deception comes from thinking they have done all that is necessary when actually listening to the Word is only the beginning.
A fitting illustration of the 'sit', soak,and sour crowd follows.
The one who listens and does nothing is like a man who glances at his face in a mirror (Word) then forgets what he saw.
It is interest that James cited a man in this illustration.
A woman would probably not give just a cursory glance,and if she saw a flaw she would probably do what she could to cover it or correct it.
Not so-- this man who sees the 'face of his birth' and then forgets about it.
To look into the mirror of the Word of God involves an obligation.
One must look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom.
The intent and sustained look with a ready response is the key to spiritual strength and continued maturity.
The Word for 'looks intently into' (parakypsas) literally means 'to stoop down' in order to have a good close look.
The Law that gives freedom seems like a paradox.
Law seems to imply restraint and therefore a lack of freedom.
No one could keep the Law,but Jesus came to 'fulfill' the Law.
He was the only one who could keep the Law.
Would you not agree?
Not so with God's Law than the Law.
His perfect law provides true freedom.
'Hold to My teaching,' Christ said, 'then you will know the truth,and the truth will set you free' found in John 8:31-32.
One who does what God decrees will find full liberty and will be blessed in what he does.
What are your thoughts~
