“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22 (NIV)
Have you ever sat through a powerful sermon, nodded your head the whole time, maybe even said “Amen”-only to walk away and change absolutely nothing? James calls that self-deception. Hearing God’s Word is important, but it’s not enough. If the truth doesn’t move us to action, we’re just spectators, not disciples. Real faith responds.
James doesn’t say we forget the Word-he says we fool ourselves. We think we’re growing because we’ve been exposed to truth. But exposure isn’t transformation. It’s like reading a fitness book while lounging on the couch with a bag of chips-nothing’s going to change unless we get up and do something. The Bible is not a collection of nice ideas; it’s a call to obedience.
This doesn’t mean we have to be perfect. But it does mean we take what we read and apply it. Forgive that person. Serve your neighbor. Resist temptation. Speak life. Spend time in prayer. These small acts of obedience grow our faith far more than a hundred sermons we never act on. When we become doers of the Word, it begins to shape every area of our lives-our character, our choices, and our relationships.
So today, what’s one thing God has been speaking to you about? Don’t shelve it for later. Take a step, even if it’s small. Let the Word you’ve heard become the life you live. That’s where the fruit is. That’s where the blessing is.
Prayer:
Lord, I don’t want to just hear your Word-I want to live it. Show me where I’ve been nodding without obeying. Help me take real steps of faith today, even if they’re uncomfortable. Make me a doer, not just a listener. Amen.
