Stop The Deception-Part 1 From Hearers to Doers

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 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; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.James 1:22-24 (NKJV)

There are not too many things more frustrating than forgetting something.  It can be something we were to do for someone; it could be forgetting a business appointment, not having the answer for a trivial question or even just someone's name.  I don't know, maybe it just works on a sliding scale of sorts.  Maybe the more we know; the better percentage chance there is we will forget something. But one thing is for sure, I couldn't imagine forgetting what I look like.  

I know it seems like a weird statement, but this is the analogy given in the Book of James about those who hear the Word of God, but then choose not to implement it into their lives.  Ouch!  Honey, who's that man in the mirror?  

What is the essence of what James is saying?   It doesn't do us any good to hear the Word of God, and then choose not to implement it into our life.  In fact, it is kind of interesting to me to know the very Word we choose to ignore will be the very Word used to judge us.  Abiding in the Word of God should be a common denominator amongst all Christians.  We see Jesus speaking of this in the Book of John.  

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. John 8:31 (NKJV)

And again, in the Book of 1John, we see clearly there is a distinct correlation to "Knowing" Jesus, and doing what He says.  

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.1John 2:3-4 (NKJV)

Q:    So if we are proclaiming to "Know" Jesus and yet we continually and willfully choosing not to "Keep" His commandments - we have to ask ourselves, do we really Fear (Respect) Him, or do we really "Know" Him?

Jesus gives us some insight to this answer in these Scriptures in Luke--

 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? Luke 6:46 (NKJV)

And look what Jesus says to those who don't really know Him

 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)

Jesus goes on to say whoever is obedient in doing what they hear is just like a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  And whoever hears His sayings and chooses not to do them is likened to foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.  And great was its fall (See Matt. 7:24-27).

Q:    What should we do if we are reading and agreeing with the Word of God, but not applying it?

• Let's stop the deception!  
• Let's make it a point to apply the things we hear in God's Word.   
• Let's build our house on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God.  

I want to encourage you today to really think about what you are reading and hearing when it comes to the message within the Bible.  Meditate on it and ask yourself, "Am I applying this to my life, or am I just intellectualizing what I am hearing and reading?"  Its so easy to say, "Amen" and yet not actually do what we are agreeing with.  

STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from the Scriptures contained within this devotional with regard to hearing the Word of God, but not applying it to our lives?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you a good hearer of the Word, but find yourself not applying it?

APPLICATION: Don't beat yourself up over your mistakes, just repent of not doing what you know to be right.   Make it a point today to begin to apply everything you hear in God's Word.  You will be richly blessed.