James (W3D3) Mirror, Mirror

Week 3. Wednesday: Mirror, Mirror

PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.

READ: James 1:22-24

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words

• Merely listen to the word: It’s easy to listen to God’s word. It’s another thing to try to live it out. Too often we listen and think that is enough because it makes us feel somewhat better at the time.

• Deceive yourselves: When we don’t apply the word, we will be easily deceived. A common deception is that knowing the word is enough. We can even become prideful in our knowledge. But true understanding leads to action.

• Do what it says: Doing makes all the difference. When we do what God says we not only become more wise, but we also guard ourselves when life gets difficult. James learned this concept from Jesus (Matthew 7:24-27).

• Mirror: James uses another illustration to make his point. Reading and listening to God’s word is like looking into a mirror. God’s word shows us who we are and who we need to be much like a mirror gives us an accurate picture of how we look.

• Immediately forgets: When we listen to or read the word with no real intentions of living it out, we quickly forget what we have learned. This causes us to avoid our flaws and make no real changes in our lives.

APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?

How are we deceived by not doing what Scripture calls us to do?

What does God’s word reveal in you that you don’t like to see?

What is God calling you to do that you are avoiding? Why?

PRAY: Ask God to give you the wisdom and courage to do what He says.