James 1.21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 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.
This morning I offer unto you a simple meditation. I am aware that there is nothing new under the sun. Nevertheless, I pass this thought along to you as a fellow pilgrim of Jesus Christ on this earth. It is both an exhortation, and a warning at the same time. We should never equate reading and agreeing with Scripture with believing and doing it. James makes this point as clear as can be. All the reading, all the memorizing, all the sermon sipping that we do is of no real value until we put into practice whatever it is God had said. Remember that when Jesus was made aware that His mother and brothers were in the crowd, wanting to talk with Him? What was His simple but profound reply? Who is My mother or brother, but those who hear the Word of God and do it. Never substitute academics for application. Selah.
