Former Blackout Artist

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. – James 1:22-25

I recently saw a study that was conducted back in August of this year revealing that 92 million selfies are snapped every single day in the world. It’s official: we just can’t stop looking at ourselves. Either that, or we don’t own mirrors and we totally forget what we look like several times each day.

So recently, I saw this house for sale and I set up an appointment to take a tour. It was perfect. Nice garden out back, beautiful lawn, lots of flowering trees… and all of the walls and ceilings inside were completely mirrored! I could totally see myself living there someday!

Horrible dad joke aside, I got this really cool smartphone app idea. How it works: we download the app (which is totally free btw). We give the app access to our camera, our browsing histories, and all of our texting conversations. And each time we take a selfie, it takes a picture of what’s inside our hearts. How cool would that be?!

Even if it were possible, I don’t think it would be a huge hit. While learning the truth about others often gives us this heightened sense of self-righteousness that makes us feel good, learning the truth about ourselves often makes us extremely uncomfortable.

Just as a mirror reveals what is on the outside, the Bible reveals what is on the inside. Nothing reveals the contents of our hearts more accurately than reading God’s word. The writer of Hebrews says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between the soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12).

Again, it exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

I’ve read a lot of self-help books throughout my life, and there are some really good authors who can inspire and motivate readers with their words. But those self-help books cannot do the blessed work of the Holy Spirit, and the only way we can feed the Spirit is with the truth of God’s word.

James is telling us in 1:22-25 to be doers of the word, not just hearers. It is a call to action – a reminder that faith is not passive but an active force moving us into a life that reflects of the teachings of Christ. So let us not be content with a passive reception of God’s wisdom, but let us seek opportunities to apply His wisdom in our daily lives.

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” The Bible is not merely a guidebook; it is a living, breathing source of divine guidance meant to mold our character and actions that are pleasing to God.

Questions Worth Considering

1 How have you actively applied the teachings of God’s Word in your daily life recently? Take a moment to reflect on specific actions or decisions that demonstrate your commitment to being a doer of the Word.

2 In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to translate your faith into action? Consider any habits, attitudes, or relationships where there might be a gap between what you know from Scripture and how you live it out. What steps can you take to bridge that gap?

3 How does your commitment to being a doer of the Word influence your interactions within your community or among your friends and family? Are there opportunities to share God’s love through your actions? Think about some practical ways that your faith in action can make a positive impact on those around you this week.