Hearing and Doing the Word (NIV)
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Obedience to God
We live in a world today that is deeply concerned with one thing: me. Our culture has become increasingly self-centered, and if we are honest, many of our churches have drifted in the same direction. We often think that simply hearing a good sermon or joining a growth group is enough to merit blessing.
James would say no. He would tell us that the person who is truly blessed is not the one who merely listens to God’s Word, but the one who allows it to penetrate the heart and transform the life. James reminds us that true faith is lived out. In many ways, the book of James is the Proverbs of the New Testament—full of wisdom, clarity, and practical insight for daily life.
This Sunday, we will explore what it means to be people of God who are living on purpose for God. We will be talking about listening, the danger of unchecked anger, and what it means to be doers of the Word, not hearers only.
Our prayer is that you will be drawn deeper in your passion for Jesus, your desire for His Word, and your faithfulness to His bride, the church.
In Christ,
Blake Cox
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Obedience to God
We live in a world today that is deeply concerned with one thing: me. Our culture has become increasingly self-centered, and if we are honest, many of our churches have drifted in the same direction. We often think that simply hearing a good sermon or joining a growth group is enough to merit blessing.
James would say no. He would tell us that the person who is truly blessed is not the one who merely listens to God’s Word, but the one who allows it to penetrate the heart and transform the life. James reminds us that true faith is lived out. In many ways, the book of James is the Proverbs of the New Testament—full of wisdom, clarity, and practical insight for daily life.
This Sunday, we will explore what it means to be people of God who are living on purpose for God. We will be talking about listening, the danger of unchecked anger, and what it means to be doers of the Word, not hearers only.
Our prayer is that you will be drawn deeper in your passion for Jesus, your desire for His Word, and your faithfulness to His bride, the church.
In Christ,
Blake Cox
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