My Corner Online

 

James 1:22-25

"Just do it!"  Not doing what we read and study in the Bible is "just being lazy."  It takes effort to put God's Word into action.  How many times do we hear about the ways to keep ourselves physically fit, such as good eating and exercise, but we are too lazy to put it into action.  We hear and know, but without action, it is self-deceiving. We rationalize in our heads "one more day won't hurt." Our non-action is a symptom of denying to ourselves in our hearts the knowledge is 100% truth and necessary. We know the truth, but as soon as our mind turns away, we forget it. However, when medical problems arise, we are convinced and jump into action! It is the same for God's Word.  We know what we are supposed to do, but we are too lazy to put it into action. Or we get so caught up in reading and learning God's Word that all our free time is taken up. There must be balance.  I love sitting beside a pond, relaxing, and looking at the reflection of the trees upon the water.  When something falls into the water, the ripples mess up the reflection.  In the same way, laziness messes up our own reflection of who we want to be as an obedient child of Christ. Be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Be blessed in your doing as much as you are in your reading. Do not just look to God's words for answers, but put those answers into action. Do not be a forgetful hearer. Do not be a superficial hearer who lets words go in one ear and out the other without really getting embedded in thought.  Who are you? Look into the mirror and see yourself as God's blessed hearer and do-er. Don't forget who you are.

 

 There are three purposes or functions of the law (curb, mirror, guide). This is why a sermon or even Bible verses can take on different meanings to each person.  Verse 25 follows verse 24 which references a mirror. The law accuses us and shows us our sin as we look into the perfect law. Seeing our sins in the mirror of the law gives us freedom to ask for God's forgiveness and we are saved by grace. The law gives us freedom to obey. The law gives us freedom to be do-ers.