James 1:22-Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The Apostle James is not writing to unbelievers, but He is writing to Christians.
He exhorts them to not only be a hearer of God's Word but to apply it to their lives for hearing the Word of God and not applying it to our lives is self deception and makes the Word of no effect in our life.
In other words, information is of no use if there is no application of it. The two goes hand in hand.
Are you a hearer only or a hearer and doer of God's Word?
James describes a man or woman that hears the word only in this manner. Let's listen to vs#23-24 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man viewing his natural face in a mirror. 24 He views himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was
There is a difference between being a hearer only and being a hearer and a doer. James says the man or woman who is a hearer and a doer of God's Word is blessed in whatever he or she does.
Partial obedience is no obedience.
Here is an example that is found in Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
Adam heard what God said about not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but he did not apply obedience to what he heard. He forgot what he heard and did what he wanted.
The Word of God was not properly applied. He heard it, but he also did the opposite of what it said.
Hearer of God's Word or hearer and doer of God's Word? Which have you applied to your life? Hearings only bring about curses and hearing and doing brings about blessings.
Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2 for length of days and long life and peace will they add to you.
Hearer only of God's Word or hearer and doer of God's Word? Obedience or disobedience? Which have you chosen?
Are you a hearer only or a hearer and doer of God's Word?
God bless you all.
Debra