Young Adults' Group

Doers Of The Word

by Pastor Mark
October 11, 2018

When we are not doers of the Word of God

As we listen to the Lord’s Word each week, how are we responding? Some may just hear the Word and not do anything. This is something that James highlights as the problem of self-deception, “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) Wherein is the deception?

1. We are deceived

The word “deceiving” comes from the Greek word “paralogizomai”. It is made up of two words, “para” and “reasoning”. The deception lies in us having a parallel but wrong reasoning. It is a personal subjective way of thinking…to hear and not do the Word of God. It is an erroneous way of reasoning and we are actually deceiving ourselves. Let us guard ourselves from being deceived.

2. It is to feel that things are all right

“For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” (James 1:23–24)

Even though we hear the Word of God only, we feel that it is all right. James used the illustration of a man seeing himself in the mirror. When we see our face in the mirror and there is something that needs to be cleaned up, we will do something about it. It would be the most natural thing to do. The Word of God is likened to a mirror. When we look at the Scriptures, we observe who we really are. If we see all the wrong in our lives and not do anything about it, we delude ourselves into thinking that we are spiritually all right.

The challenge to do both the Lord’s Word and His work

How can we be challenged to do the Lord’s Word?

1. Being a doer of the Lord’s word

“But be doers of the word,” (James 1:22)

Whenever we hear from the Scriptures, it is crucial that we learn to practise the lessons learnt. When the Word of God reveals to us the sins in our life, our challenge is to address them accordingly. Shouldn’t we seek to practise the Word of God effectively? Let us be challenged to be a doer of the Word.

2. Being a doer of the Lord’s work

“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)

The law of God gives liberty to all who would read it. The Lord’s Word has liberating powers and it can free us from our sins. As we determine to practise the Word of God, we would also become doers of the Lord’s work. The Word of God and His work are closely related. Through the Word of God, God reveals His plans for us to do His work. Let us challenged to be a doer of the Lord’s work. Let us be challenged to be a practitioner of the Lord’s Word and to fulfil His work.

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