Daily Devotionals

^23”Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ 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 1:23-25).

Are you a deceived hearer, distracted hearer, or do-nothing hearer? Do-nothing hearers forget and do nothing about what they hear. A do-nothing hearer is an absolute contradiction of even being a Christian. Verses 24 and 25 describe a careless hearer and a careful hearer. The careful hearer doesn’t want to miss anything. Not only does he listen carefully but he applies it carefully.  It’s important to understand this. It’s one thing to hear it, but until I begin to apply the instruction I hear, it’s not mine. I’m a very forgetful hearer, deceived hearer, distracted hearer, do-nothing hearer until I begin to listen intensely and make application in my life.

He doesn’t say the person is going to be blessed who hears; but the person is going to be blessed who does what he hears. He didn’t say once you heard it, think about it, once you heard it consider it, or pray about it. He said once you have been instructed, become a doer of the word. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). How does that apply to your life and mine? Here is how it applies. When you and I received the Lord as our saviour, not only did He forgive us of our sin, but the Bible says the Holy spirit came into our lives to indwell within us – so that you and I have the life of Christ indwelling us.  The truth is, if I’m going to be a genuine New Testament Christian, not only must I be instructed, but it’s the lifestyle of a New Testament Christian to be a doer of the word.

• Thank you for reading our devotional on “Listening And Doing”.