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- James 1:22-24
James 1:22-24
Do What You Hear
James challenges us to not only hear God’s Word but to live it out. He warns against merely attending church or reading the Bible without letting it transform our actions. It’s easy to believe that listening alone makes us faithful, but James reminds us that true Christianity requires action.
James uses a vivid image: a person looking into a mirror, seeing their flaws, and then walking away without making any changes. Ancient mirrors were polished metal, showing a clear reflection of what needed fixing. In the same way, God’s Word reveals who we are and who we should become. It highlights our flaws and the areas needing change.
But if we only listen and never act, we remain unchanged, and the hearing is in vain. As William Barclay said, “What we hear in the holy place must be lived out in the marketplace.” Faith isn’t just about hearing—it moves us into action.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.