Digging Deeper James 1:22-25

Points to ponder

James 1:22-25 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.

Points to Ponder:
These verses really hit home for me. Surely, I am guilty of doing exactly what these verses warn us NOT to do. Oh, sure I read my Bible most days, but I probably fall into the category of deceiving myself that that is somehow enough. If there is no application of the words, the truths that I've read, of what value are they to me?

How about you? Are you a listener? A reader? Or a doer?

The last verse says, "whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom." It doesn't just say looking into the word but looking INTENTLY into the word. Recently I was memorizing Proverbs 2. I got stuck in verses 4-5 "if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God." Seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasure - now that sounds like intently. Can I honestly say I search the Scriptures with that much intent?

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom: We all want freedom, don't we? It is not just addicts that are in bondage. Most of us are in bondage in some form. Freedom comes from the LIVING WORD through the WRITTEN WORD.

It's not just the reading of the Word that brings freedom but the doing of it. And not just for the day or the week but CONTINUING in it. James says "they will be blessed in what they do."

Today can be your declaration of freedom day. You, we can choose today that from this point on we will be doers of the word, not just hearers, and not just doers, but doers of the WORD.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.