"Living Out the Word: From Hearers to Doers"

James 1:22-27 “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. 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. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

I. Intro

When men go to the mirror, they look, and they quickly turn away “forgetting what they saw.” That’s not how women use mirrors. A woman will get up and go to mirror number one to check and make sure she is starting the day out right. Next, there is a long, full body mirror-mirror number two. Then, this woman will get in her car, pull down the visor, and check in mirror number three. Once at her place of employment, she will go to the ladies room and look in mirror number four. Now, mirror number five is in her purse. This mirror gives this lady a way to check and recheck her look in an instant. Why do women have mirror after mirror? They never want to lose sight of what they look like.

In this portion of Scripture, James, the brother of Jesus and a wise leader in the early Christian community, uses a compelling analogy to illustrate an important truth. He compares someone who hears the Word of God but fails to act on it to a person who looks at their own reflection in a mirror and immediately forgets what they look like. It's an image that captures our attention and calls us to reflect on the state of our own spiritual lives. We have access to sacred Scriptures that contain divine wisdom, instruction, and guidance for every aspect of our lives. However, James emphasizes that merely hearing or reading the Word is not enough. It's not enough to be familiar with its teachings or to possess a vast knowledge of its contents. Instead, James challenges us to become doers of the Word. He urges us to internalize the truth and wisdom found in the Scriptures and to let it shape our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. The mirror he speaks of is not merely a reflective surface, but a metaphor for self-reflection and introspection. When we encounter God's Word, it should act as a mirror that reveals our true selves. It exposes our flaws, shortcomings, and areas in need of transformation. It reveals the distance between who we are and who we are called to be in Christ. But it doesn't stop there. The mirror of God's Word also points us to the hope, grace, and transformative power available to us through Jesus. It is not enough to nod our heads in agreement with the Scriptures or to speak eloquently about its teachings. Our faith must be alive, active, and tangible.

II. Practice the Word

It is not enough to hear the Word; we must do it. Many people have the mistaken idea that hearing a good sermon or Bible Study is what makes them grow and get God’s blessing. It is not the hearing, but the doing that brings the blessing. Too many Christians mark their Bibles, but their Bibles never mark them. If you think you are spiritual because you hear the Word, then you are only kidding yourself. The main purpose of owning a mirror is examination. As we look into the mirror of God’s Word, we see ourselves as we really are. James mentions several mistakes people make as they look into God’s mirror.

First, they merely glance at themselves. They do not carefully study themselves as they read the Word. Many sincere believers read a chapter of the Word each day, but it i only a religious exercise and they fail to profit from it personally. Their conscience would bother them if they didn’t have their daily reading, when actually, their conscience should bother them because they read the Word carelessly. It is the difference between a candid photo and an Xray.

The second mistake is they forget what they see. If they were looking deeply enough into their hearts, what they would see would be unforgettable. Job was the most righteous man on Earth in his day yet he confessed Job 42:6 “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent In dust and ashes.”

Mistake number three: they fail to obey what the Word tells them to do. They think that hearing is the same as doing, and it is not. If we are to use God’s mirror profitably, then we must gaze into it carefully, and with serious intent. We must examine our own hearts and lives in the light of God’s Word. This requires time, attention, and sincere devotion. Five minutes with God each day will never accomplish a deep spiritual examination. When I go to the doctor, she has two qualities I admire, she has spent time with me and not been in a hurry, and always told me the truth. When Jesus, the Great Physician, examines us, He uses His Word, and He wants us to give Him sufficient time to do the job well. Perhaps one reason we glance into the Word, instead of gaze into the Word, is we might be afraid of what we might see.

III. Conclusion

After seeing ourselves, we must remember what we are and what God says, and we must do the Word. The emphasis in James is is on the practice of the Word. We are to continue after reading the Word. Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” When he built the tabernacle, Moses took the metal looking glasses of the women and from them made the laver. The laver was a huge basin that stood between the brazen altar of sacrifice and the holy place. The basin was was filled with water, and the priests washed their hands and feet at the laver before they entered the holy place to minister. Water for washing is a picture of the Word of God in its cleansing power. John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” The church is sanctified and cleansed “with the washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” When the sinner trusts Christ, he is once and for all washed clean. Titus 3:4-6 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” The mirror of God’s Word not only examines us and reveals our sins, but it helps to cleanse us as well. The Bible gives us the promise of cleansing. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” It is the blood of Christ that cleanses the guilt, but the water of the Word helps to wash away the defilement. The important thing is that we hide nothing. Psalms 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” When judgment fell on Sodom, Lot lost everything. It was Abraham, the separated believer, the friend of God, who had a greater ministry to the people than Lot did, who was a friend of the world. It is not necessary for the Christians to get involved with the world to have a ministry to the world. Jesus was “unspotted” 1 Peter 1:19 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” and yet He was the friend of publicans and sinners. The best way to minister to the needs of the world is to be pure from the defilement of the world.