“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 a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” — James 1:22-25
“Magic mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?” Do you remember that line from the wicked queen from Snow White? Well, the mirror always answered “you are, queen,” but she would later forget and had to ask again.
In the first century, very few people had access to what we would call a Bible. Old Testament Scriptures were available in the synagogues perhaps, but the apostles teaching came first to the churches, either in the form of oral teachings or by a letter to that church or a copy of a letter written to another church.
Believers would gather together on the Lord’s Day and listen to the word preached or taught. But merely listening to the word, as good as it is, is not enough. God has always expected us to do what He says. That’s called obedience, or a James puts it, “doing it.” He also calls God’s Word, “the perfect law that gives freedom.” But freedom from what? Well, if it’s perfect, then it must mean if we do it the way it’s written, then we’ll have done the perfect thing, free of any wrong doing, evil intent or misdeed. In other words, freedom from sin.
Jesus also told us how we could demonstrate our love toward Him through our obedience. He simply said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” — John 15:9-10
Our love for Jesus is expressed through our obedience to His word, and the result is His joy in us. Wow. Just do what He says and we can have fulness of joy. That’s what I want today. How about you? — Maranatha!
Pastor Don
