Monday, January 4: Like someone who looks at his face in a mirror

Read James 1:22-27

 

Read James 1:22-27

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 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, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 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.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Reflect

James uses an interesting simile in this section. Can you imagine what it would be like to look at yourself in a mirror, only to forget what you look like after walking away? How is this like listening to the word or looking into the perfect law, as James describes, and then not doing what is says?

Respond

Take a short moment to honestly assess your "information-to-action ratio" when it comes to reading Scripture. How often do you read it just to read it, not letting it inform your actions in any way? How often do you allow it to spur action and obedience?

 

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