https://odb.org/2026/04/07/doers-of-the-scriptures
James 1:22–25 (NIV): 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. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James describes something similar in the attitude of many believers toward the Scriptures: “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and . . . goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:23-24). Many followers of Christ are aware of what the Bible says. However, we may “merely listen to the word” (v. 22), and the extent to which we submit to it ends there. In this way, we deceive ourselves about the power and authority of Scripture, failing to see it as providing the “perfect law that gives [us] freedom” (v. 25). (Karen Huang, Our Daily Bread 7th April 2026)
An interesting fact is that the cross reference to James 1:22 is Matthew 7:21 which reads “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Thus, when James says that we ought to not just listen but do what the Word says, it means ultimately that we do the will of the Father. This is because the will of God is embedded in the Word.
Let’s take a simple piece of Scripture. For example, faith is believing in things unseen. It’s a spiritual fact. That’s the definition of faith. But how do we do it? How do we action that Word? Well, when we face situations that seemed difficult, we exercise faith. We believe God will help us through it. That’s one way. But a better way will be when it is something that originates from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit prompts us to a certain action. For example, to give someone RM100. So we just give. That’s because we acted on faith is believing in things unseen. Can we physically hear the prompting of the Holy Spirit? No, but we believe in things unseen. In this whole process, we ended up doing the will of the Father.
Of course, the obvious “doing of the Word” is to obey the moral code in the Bible. From the Ten Commandments to the love your enemy as thyself to love your God the LORD with all your heart, soul and mind. But ultimately it always boils down to doing the will of the Father. That’s our aim and goal. In all things we do, we do the will of God as we always want to live at the center of His will. To be part of the things He is doing in our midst.
Another example – faith without works is dead. Effectively, we are to do good deeds as part of our faith as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Faith is not just belief. It is action. It’s not internalised only. It is acted out by the things we do for others. By our service in God, in the church or as we work. Our lives are not meant to be lived in isolation. It needs to be in fellowship with others around us, building up each other’s faith. Encouraging each other to run the race and fight the good fight.
Perhaps this morning, we could take a Scripture. Memorise it. Meditate upon it. Ask the Lord to speak to us. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will for us for the moment. Discover and explore the rhema of the Word. Then do it! Action it! Make the Word come alive and see the power of God flow through it, transforming lives, making a difference.
Ronnie's Thoughts 