The Mirror of God’s Word

Scripture: James 1:19-25

“19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 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. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 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.”

The Gospel reveals our true self and gives the power and compulsion to obey Christ out of gratitude, not out of legalistic righteousness. This Gospel is what propels believers to God’s Word, His voice, and unto obedience. We are to not only listen to the word thereby deceiving ourselves, but trusting Him in the doing.