“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.” James 1: 23-24

My sister Harriet often tells the memory of my aunt Rebecca chastising her for not listening; she was always busy playing with her dolls and aunt Rebecca, was telling her something to do, then she suddenly smites her on the side of the head and said, “Listen to me when I am talking to you girl!” To follow any instructions, we must carefully listen with intent to carry them out. James 1:23-24 gives a vivid example of the failure to act on the instructions we receive in the Word of God. “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.”

We all get up in the morning and look in the mirror. . . most of us proceed on with washing our face before leaving the house. But, if the state of our appearance after rising from bed is ignored, we soon forget what we saw in the first place! Of course, someone along the way will most likely point out our disheveled hair! James’s analogy about hearers and doers of the word is synonymous to the forgetful riser. “For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” James 1:24

We can walk into worship service and hear the Word of God every Sunday, but if we leave out and neglect to feed on what we have heard; by reading and spending time in the Word, intentionally praying for others and ourselves to understand the will of God; seeking the filling of the Holy Spirit that we may live and speak His truth; then we deceive ourselves about the desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” James 1:22

Change takes courage or fortitude, the determination to overcome our first condition, and to do that we must listen to someone…in this case to the Holy Spirit as He leads us in the Word of God. What are you seeing in the mirror this morning- are you willing to change- can your life be an advertisement for the excellency of our Lord and Savior? Let us each take introspection of what we see in the mirror of our souls and be willing to listen with our whole heart to follow where He leads. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:25

God’s blessings of joy and peace be with you always.