Are we doers or deceived?

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

James 1:24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

This is God's call to be doers of His Word, and as he adds, not hearers only. It's one thing to hear God's Word, but His intention, is that we would then respond in faith by being "doers" or those who put His Word into practice.

If we only hear, and aren't "doers" then we are like a person who looks into a mirror, ( God's Word is likened unto a mirror, and is indeed so, in that it shows us who we are ) and see ourselves, and see what God is showing us about ourselves, but then we go our way and forget what we just saw.

On the other hand, if we will look at God's Word, and continue in it, and not be a forgetful hearer, but are a "doer", then we will be blessed in the work, and in what we do.

So, the blessings of God are brought to us through His Word, but we must not just hear, but do, and then God's blessings are experienced in our lives.

The primary and central blessing of God in our lives, is that He works in us to conform us into His own image, and He works in us and through us to bring about His will for our lives, and into the lives of others.

It all starts with His Word, and our response to it.

May the blessings of God, in your work and in your life be yours today. May You hear and be a doers of His Word. Lord, how You desire to bless us. Thank You for that in Jesus name. Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises.

1. God is speaking through His Word.

2. We have ears to hear, may we use them.

3. Hearing and doing are both God's will for each of us.

4. Grace enables us to be doers.

5. Let's read, hear, and then respond on a daily basis.

6. God's richest blessings come through His Word.

7. May His work in You be blessed today.