Devotion for Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.23 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:24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.25 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.
James 1:22-25

My Commentary:

Today’s verses are about as practical as you can get.  James tells his readers to be all about application of truth and not just knowing the Truth of God’s Word.  It really does take both.

He then illustrates his point with the idea of a man looking in a mirror.  The mirror is a great tool.  It helps us know what to change about our appearance every day.  We wake up, look at ourselves in the mirror and make the appropriate changes.  When you leave though, things change.  Eventually, you’ll need to look in the mirror again to help you make those appropriate changes.  Have you ever looked in a mirror and noticed a piece of the spinach from lunch between your front teeth?  That’s so embarrassing!  “Why didn’t someone tell me?”, you ask. The mirror helped you see the brutal reality of your appearance.  It would be illogical for you to say, “Oh, I looked in the mirror last week and I looked fine then, so I’m sure I’m good now.”

James says that the Bible is like that.  It helps us to see what changes need to be made.  It was intended for us to read it and to do something about what we read!  It was intended to be read as much as we need it, and if we were honest we need it quite often.

Mirrors help us see what need’s to be changed.  Mirrors don’t help us until we respond to what we see.

Mirrors should be referred to often.  This is true of the Bible!

Application:

There is often a big difference between what we know and what we do when it comes to the Bible.  Has the Bible pointed out an area in your life that needs attention?  What changes need to be made?  What do you need to do today?