Hearing & Doing

James 1:22-25, "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. (NIV)

This passage of scripture is probably familiar to many of us who have read the Bible or attended church for any length of time. We have heard preachers and teachers remind us of the need to put into action those principles that the Bible teaches us to practice. As a matter of fact; this passage may be falling on deaf ears in this day and time because of its familiarity. We all know what we need to do but the great question could be presented in this manner, "Are we doing what we know we ought to be doing?" Are we (I) putting into practice those principles which consistently reveal the presence of Christ at work in my heart? We must remember that this is not just the personal opinion of the Apostle James. He is writing under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Ghost (if I understand the Bible correctly). He is writing from the Heart of God being poured into his heart and spirit. The Spirit undoubtedly realizes that mankind has the ability to see themselves in the Word and then quickly become detached from what they saw through the eyes of the Spirit. We must hear but we must also put into practice what we hear.