Read James 1:22-25Is your spiritual life active or passive? Are you striving for holiness and growth, or are you complacently sitting still? James is one of my favorite books of the Bible, because it is so hard-hitting. James doesn't tiptoe around what he wants to say in order to avoid offending anyone...he tells it like it is! Whenever I read James, I am always extremely convicted. He brings the truth so boldly and clearly, that it's impossible to remain unaffected in your heart.
In this particular passage, James challenges believers to be doers of the Word rather than merely hearers. He uses the illustration of a man who looks at himself in the mirror and then walks away and forgets what he looks like. Sounds pretty ridiculous, right? I mean how could you forget something like that so quickly? Unfortunately, this is often what happens to believers after reading God's Word or hearing a sermon in church. It goes in one ear and right out the other. The passage they have just studied is easily forgotten and their lives remain completely unaffected.
After teaching several Bible Studies I quickly learned not to ask the question, "can anyone tell me what we learned last week?" The reason I hate asking this is because the answer is almost always...awkward silence..."umm...weren't we in the New Testament somewhere?" Ouch. That's always hard for a teacher to hear! It seems like all the time you spent preparing and drilling that truth into them was useless. I know I am oftentimes exactly the same. I hear the message but fail to let it sink in and really change my life.
James is challenging us to be different than this. Church doesn't have to be a weekly or bi-weekly event that has no effect on the rest of your life. Scripture reading doesn't have to be a monotonous, forced, and seemingly pointless practice. I love verse 25, which states, "But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."
Start by taking an active role during times of teaching. If there is preparation homework or questions given beforehand, study them thoughtfully. During times of teaching, eliminate distractions (**cell phones!!), ask questions, take notes, and mark passages in your Bible. When you're studying the Bible by yourself, underline and highlight key passages and jot down thoughts you have in the margin or in a journal. Consult the footnotes in your Study Bible if you have one, or read a Bible commentary for further clarification on passages. After you read a section of Scripture, pray that the Lord will show you how you can really apply that biblical truth to your life and meditate on how you can do just that.
I know this seems like a lot of work. But you've got to admit...being a mere hearer of the Word who fails to put it into practice just isn't a fulfilling way for a Christian to live. Remember that James 1:25 says that doers of the Word will be blessed! Think about all of the spiritual blessings you are missing out on because of your apathy and lack of action. Make this your prayer this week: "Lord, please keep me from being a mere hearer of your Word. Show me how to put your biblical principles into action. Allow your Word to touch me in a way that I can't ignore, and give me the boldness and earnestness to apply it to my life."
