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. (James 1:22-25)
James is one of the harshest books in the Bible, isn't it. Elsewhere in the Bible, we read about bearing fruit. Here are just a couple of examples that come to mind:
So why do these words from James seem so harsh? Really, it's not saying anything new so much as it is reframing and rephrasing what we see in multiple other places in God's word.
I think it is partly that the words are so straightforward. There is no metaphor of vines and branches, no pleasant picture of fruit, no third-person, Proverbs-like comparison of righteous and wicked (since we all naturally identify with the righteous and imagine other people are the wicked).
Don't just listen to the word. DO WHAT IT SAYS. Don't let your reading of the word being a fleeting thing. Don't let it be ...
... something that you don't understand and don't pursue
... something you half-understand and forget later
... something you understand and reject
I also think these words seem particularly harsh because we tend to do one or more of the above. How often have you let your eyes glance over something you're reading in the Bible, all while you're thinking about something else? Or how often to you feel a moment of conviction ... and then move on?
This is exactly what James is telling us not to do with his vivid imagery of the person who glances at the mirror without thinking, and without remembering.
Here is a photo of me looking into a mirror so I could get a picture of my brand-new, short haircut, back in 2013 or so. I'm guessing that the phone's selfie function didn't exist yet, or (more likely) I hadn't figured out how to use it.
James is one of the harshest books in the Bible, isn't it. Elsewhere in the Bible, we read about bearing fruit. Here are just a couple of examples that come to mind:
- So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10)
- “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
So why do these words from James seem so harsh? Really, it's not saying anything new so much as it is reframing and rephrasing what we see in multiple other places in God's word.
I think it is partly that the words are so straightforward. There is no metaphor of vines and branches, no pleasant picture of fruit, no third-person, Proverbs-like comparison of righteous and wicked (since we all naturally identify with the righteous and imagine other people are the wicked).
Don't just listen to the word. DO WHAT IT SAYS. Don't let your reading of the word being a fleeting thing. Don't let it be ...
... something that you don't understand and don't pursue
... something you half-understand and forget later
... something you understand and reject
I also think these words seem particularly harsh because we tend to do one or more of the above. How often have you let your eyes glance over something you're reading in the Bible, all while you're thinking about something else? Or how often to you feel a moment of conviction ... and then move on?
This is exactly what James is telling us not to do with his vivid imagery of the person who glances at the mirror without thinking, and without remembering.
Here is a photo of me looking into a mirror so I could get a picture of my brand-new, short haircut, back in 2013 or so. I'm guessing that the phone's selfie function didn't exist yet, or (more likely) I hadn't figured out how to use it.
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