Paying Attention To What We Claim To Believe (Part 2)
James 1:22-25 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (KJV)
The word that is translated as “looketh” implies careful consideration. Even if you want to quibble with the meaning of the verb, the man spoken of here is looking into the mirror long enough to see himself as he is. He sees himself and he takes careful note of his appearance: unkempt hair, rotten teeth, unwashed face. He sees that he is a complete mess, then leaves and forgets what manner of man he was.
Our condition is the same. We hear the word of God expounded and we see ourselves. We take notes during our college chapels, Sunday school hours, and morning worship. We detail our faults in sermon notes like the aforementioned man details his physical defects. We don’t love God. We despise our neighbor. We entertain ourselves with what we know displeases God. We see that our lives are a complete mess.
Then at noon when the Pastor is finally winding down, when it’s time to go back to “normal” life, we close our Bible and walk away forgetting what manner of men we are.
James says that we must look into the law of liberty, we must meditate on it, we must remember it, and we must put it into practice. Are you applying the things you profess to believe? Or does your life reflect that your stated “beliefs” are only lip service?
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. - James 1:26
Verse 26 can be applied to many other areas than just speech. If the faith you claim you have does not shape and change the things that are seen externally then your religion is worthless.
Let us be known by our fruit.
