Be Doers...Not Just Hearers!

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

As Americans, we understand that one of the things that makes us special is our American Constitution.  That document that makes sets us apart, establishes our freedoms and in many ways, makes us special throughout the world.  Because it is the foundation for our government and liberties, we cherish it, value it and defend it.

For those that claim to be Christians, the Bible in many ways is much like the Constitution.  The Bible is our law.  Likewise the Bible establishes our Freedoms. And if used correctly sets us apart from the rest of the world.

But that statement is really the main point of our text this day:  “If used correctly”!  It is amazing to me how that the Bible can be so easily discarded as irrelevant.  The Power in the word comes from its Application!  But don’t so many other things in life?  How useful is an electrical socket if you do not stick the plug into it.  It has enormous POTENTIAL in its unused state, but it is useless without application.  Medicine is the same way.  You can be dying with a bottle of medicine in your hand and still die if you don’t put the medicine in your mouth.  The Bible is NO different!  The Bible ONLY has great Potential, unless and until it is applied to our lives!

James tells us not to be hearers only but to do what it is that we hear and read.  But look at the last statement that he makes here.  “Deceiving our Own selves.  If we think that we can read the word of God, maybe even become great students of it, even to the point that we have it largely memorized, but we do not APPLY the commands, restrictions and liberties contained within, we are only FOOLING ourselves.

Don’t lie to yourself.    If you want to be a follower of God, know the word of God by studying it regularly.  But don’t stop there....Do what the Bible tells you to do.  Refrain from what the Bible says to avoid!  Think how it tells you to think!  Be what it tells you to be!