Doers of the Word

“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 who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

(James 1:22 ESV)

Many of us, in the church, fit James’ description above. We are hearers of the Word. Perhaps we come to church and listen as the Scriptures are read. Perhaps we listen as the message is preached. However, we are not doers of the Word.

We think we’re on the right track. We think we’re doing well. After all, here we are, at church, hearing the Word. Yet, as James points out, we’re deceiving ourselves.

We’re deceiving ourselves because we aren’t truly receiving what God is offering to us in his Word. We don’t allow his Word to speak into our life. And this isn’t about doing more good works to earn brownie points with God. It’s not about earning our salvation.

In order to receive the blessing of God, we must “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). We must receive what God is revealing to us in his Word. We must receive what it tells us about ourselves and what it tells us about Christ.

Failing to be a doer of the Word, James says, is like a man who looks intently in a mirror and then immediately forgets what he looks like. We learn from God’s Word that we are sinners, in need of the grace of God. In fact, our exact sins are revealed to us as we look to Scripture. And we hear his call to repentance. So, if we are hearers only, we forget this truth as soon as the proclamation of the Word comes to an end.

We also forget that our righteousness is found in Christ alone. We forget that we have nothing in ourselves to endear ourselves to him. We are righteous only in Christ. We are righteous only because we’ve received his sacrifice upon the cross.

Being a doer of the Word means that we live in the Word of God. We live in the knowledge that we are mere sinners deserving of judgment. We live in faith that Jesus gave his life on our behalf, that our sins might be forgiven and that we might receive his righteousness. Our works, then, flow naturally from this life of repentance and faith.

Believing that we are sinful and unclean, we turn from our sinful desires. We reject them. In fact, we hate them.

We seek the mercy of God. We seek his forgiveness for our rebellious spirit. We seek his forgiveness for the sinful acts in which we participate. And we trust in Christ alone for this gift.

We, then, look to him for strength that we might live for him. We realize that we can’t live for the Lord as we desire. It’s only with his guidance and power that we are able to do so.

The person who has received the freedom found in God’s Word will then be blessed in his doing. He will not be perfect. He will not be free from sin. He will, however, receive the blessing of God as he lives in the truth of his Word.