Be Doers and Not Hearers
ICS Daily Devotions
James 1:22-25 (NKJV) But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
What is a blind spot? It could be certain aspects of our lives, including our behaviour, thinking, or situations that we are unaware of or consistently overlook despite the significant impact they may bring.
God has created us with the freedom to choose, especially when it comes to decisions about our lives. This includes whether we make the necessary changes after our blind spots have been revealed to us. The Holy Spirit is gentle but has an authoritative voice in our hearts when He guides us to make the right decision. Nonetheless, we still hold the key to the decision despite the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the revelation of the Word of God.
The passage compares the wise and the foolish. The wise hearers will hear the Word and act on it, which is what causes them to be blessed. In contrast, the foolish ones hear the same Word, know what the problem is, but choose to forget what they have heard. They are foolish enough to think they will still be blessed without taking the necessary action—they are deceiving themselves.
Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
We must remember that God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will also reap, including choosing not to act despite the clear instructions of the Word. If the wise walk in the Spirit by yielding to do what is right, they are blessed. God will use those we trust—our trusted friends or our spouse—to speak into our lives, including revealing our blind spots, so that we produce fruit and become a blessing to others. It is when we make these changes after hearing their feedback that we experience and enjoy the abundant life.
Nobody is perfect, so we need not be defensive when a trusted person speaks into our lives regarding the blind spots that we need to deal with. Jesus says that we will bear much fruit when we are pruned by Him. The pruning process is not pleasant, but the blessings will flow thereafter.
Sermon Series: Do You Have A Blind Spot in Your Life
