The Word of God positions us for his blessings. Hearing His truth is essential for spiritual growth. Only by obeying (doing) what He says can we prosper in Him. Using the object of an mirror, James illustrates the futility of failing to respond with obedience to the light the Word that shines on our hearts. He warns that we shall lose a sense of who we are in God, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. (24) For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he looks like” (v23-24). This is not a way of Christian living and to believe so is to deceive oneself.
James completes this exhortation by offering a contrast. He states that one who practices an obedient lifestyle is, “…one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (v25). In other words, a person whose ears and heart are open to God seeks him continually through prayer and his Word, Additionally:
- Such a person desires to learn of God so they can do what he says.
- Such a person is blessed in the eyes of God for, “…his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night” Ps 1:2).
- Such a person will be able to stand firm in the truth in the midst of a dark world, like a tree planted by its life source….a stream of water. Such a person can endure this life of death because they are connected and rooted the only true source of life (Jn 15:4-7).
Here is the key. Such a person hears and does what God says because they daily cooperate with the Spirit’s transformative administration upon their hearts. They are deeply impacted by mediating on his Word. By looking upon the law of liberty, we will grow in godly desires and Holy Spirit strength to obey. James rightly concludes that such a person, “…will be blessed in his doing.” Amen!
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com