Become Known For Being a Doer of the Word

Daily Devotional

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James 1:22-24 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

What type of person will you choose to be? A person who only hears the word of God or a doer of the word of God? James 1:22-24 identifies two (2) reasons we must choose to be known as a doer of the word of God. First, the scripture characterizes those who only hear the word as deceiving themselves. Going to church or even reading the word of God to yourself without doing what it says is self deception from the perspective that it gives you a false notion that you are doing right, when in reality that it is not the case. 

Second, the scripture associates a person who only hears the word of God as a man who looks at himself in a mirror and goes his way forgetting what he looks like. The word of God is like a mirror. When we read the word of God, it is expected that we will see the changes that we must make to become conformable to the word of God. The problem therefore with being only a hearer of the word is that things will continue as they are: no changes will be seen.

How can we become known as a doer of the word? We must start by identifying the main reason we have not carried through the word of God in the past. One reason cited by the scripture for people not being a doer of the word is that of being a forgetful hearer. It is easy to become distracted by all the things that are happening around us and forget to do what God commands us to do. To correct this situation the following two (2) steps should be taken. Write down every instruction that God gives you and make note of every scripture that jumps out at you when you study or read the Bible.

Second, daily make a to-do list and put the word of God on the top of that list with a view of completing it first. Consistently, operating like this on a daily basis will ensure that you no longer forget to carry out the word of God and become known as a doer of the word of God.

Life Application: Become known for being a doer of the word of God by writing down the word of God and making it top priority on your to do list on a daily basis. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to not only read the word, but to do what it says as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.