I have said on more than one occasion that if you have been a follower of the Lord for a long time and have not changed, something is wrong. In other words, if you have sat under the Word and heard the Word without applying it to your life, you have missed the very essence of the Word. We are called to be hearers and doers. The Word must be applied to our lives. We must move from theory to practical application. The more we know, the more we are expected to live up to what we have heard. The Word can convict us as well as inspire us. We cannot hear the Word about loving our neighbor and not love our neighbor. We cannot hear about doing good and not do good. James 1:22 is our scriptural reference today.  

“But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

James writes of the importance of listening and doing. He says we must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. According to James, if we only listen to God’s Word and do not do what it says, we are simply fooling ourselves. God blesses those who fulfill His Word by living His Word. Read this entire chapter when you get a chance. Whenever you sit under the Word, be ready to follow the Word. Apply it to your life. Your life will give glory to God, and you will be a blessing to others. In conclusion, for fear that I am perceived to be judgmental, let me be clear. The Word is like a two-edged sword and cuts on both sides. This same word applies to me as well. As I preach, teach, and hear the Word, I must also respond in the same way that we must respond. We must simply listen and then, do.