James 1:22-27
It is good to be with you again today. Thank you for joining us on Hope for Today. It is always a privilege to look into and learn from the Word of God. Today, we continue studying through the practical, powerful book of James. At the end of chapter one, we are given clear instructions on being “doers of the Word and not hearers only.”
This shows human nature hasn’t changed very much since James wrote this. It seems back then, they also had the problem of people hearing God’s Word and knowing it with their heads but not doing it; it didn’t affect their behavior. This is just what God does not want or expect. These verses show that God expects our lives to change because of His Word. We read and apply it to ourselves. I know it is so easy to look around and see where others need to stop doing this and start doing that. However, I must first apply the Word to my life.
Today, our title is The Mirror of the Word, and this mirror is first of all for me. I must allow God’s Word to speak into my life right here, where I am. If you can, turn with us to James Chapter 1. Bible teacher J Mark will expound on verses 22-27.
A mirror is a valuable item if it is used properly. Mirrors are used in telescopes, binoculars, and other tools that help us see into places that aren’t large enough for visual inspection.
Mirrors also help us see ourselves as we are, at least on the outside. They show us what other people see when they look at us and help us maintain our grooming and hygiene.
In our text, James 1:22-27, God’s Word is likened to a mirror. James points out the possible responses by those who look at themselves in the mirror of God’s Word. For this reason, I’ve titled the message “The Mirror of the Word.”
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 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.
24 For he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But the one 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.
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Our text reveals two RESPONSES we can have as we look into the mirror of God’s Word.
The First RESPONSE is,
Self-Deception
You’ve probably been in a place where you happened to walk by a mirror. You just got a glimpse of yourself as you went by. You thought things were in order regarding your physical appearance. But later, when you looked carefully, you saw some areas of your appearance that needed attention and were embarrassed by what you missed the first time.
After taking that longer look and seeing that your face needs to be washed or your hair needs to be combed, you walk away saying, “What, me, dirty? Hey, I’m OK. I don’t have time to worry about that.” You’d say,” That’s foolish,” and you’d be right.
We are not to be counted among those who hear the words with their ears but have no intention of letting the Word change their lifestyle. Why is this so serious? Because of the effect it has on our faith and practice. James states clearly that those who hear God’s Word and do not apply it will be deceived! They will be led astray.
Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day, “And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me… And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, you believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they testify of me… Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?”
What a stinging indictment! They searched the Scriptures, but when they didn’t find what they were looking for, they felt free to ignore them or come up with their interpretation. That sounds like many in the church today. James is talking about hearing the Word without intending to change our lifestyle. This leads to self-deception.
Many professing Christians today choose the parts of the Bible they feel are relevant to them. And what do they say if a particular teaching of Scripture doesn’t fit their lifestyle or if it makes them feel guilty about what they’re doing? “Oh, that was for back then. It was just a cultural thing. Our world is so much different today. It doesn’t apply to us.” Really?
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-29, “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them; I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.”
When I was a boy, my dad occasionally said, “Talk is cheap.” Anyone can talk, but actions are convincing. Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day…” Paul spoke about such people as “having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” An appearance of devotion or piety is not enough.
If you and I look into the mirror of God’s Word and walk away without making changes, we will be deceived into thinking we’re OK. James says that kind of religion is worthless.
The Second RESPONSE is,
Self-Examination
The contrast is introduced in verse 25 with the word, BUT. One person looks into the mirror of God’s Word, turns, and walks away without making any changes. The other person looks into the mirror of God’s Word, sees a need for change in his life, and follows through.
What is the overall theme of our study in James’s book? “Faith That Works.” A working faith calls for a thoughtful, obedient response to what we read in Scripture. In the mirror of God’s Word, we see where changes are needed and cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He works in us.
The apathetic or carnal Christian chooses the standard for his behavior and practice. He sees God’s commands as burdensome and unnecessary. The energetic, spiritual Christian understands God’s commands are the path to genuine freedom. Jesus said, “He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” Isn’t that what a genuine Christian wants: to know Christ more fully?
The idea in the word, look, verse 25, is to bend beside, lean over, and peer within. It is not just a casual look but a penetrating look beyond the surface. Not everything that can be seen is visible on the surface. This is especially true of God’s Word. It does not yield its riches to those who skim the surface. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter,” Proverbs 25:2.
And what is it we’re looking into? “The perfect law of liberty.” It is the freedom Christ provided for us by fulfilling the law. In Christ, the law reached its goal. The law was not destroyed; it was fulfilled. In Christ, we no longer need to rely on outward controls to enforce moral behavior. We’ve been changed on the inside. Our desires and passions no longer control us. We live above the law. Jesus illustrated this so well in the Sermon on the Mount. He would begin by saying, “You have heard,” and he would give the letter of the law as the religious leaders applied it. Then He would say, “But I say unto you,” and He would give the spirit of the law. This went to the heart issues, the motives.
Someone said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” Vigilance implies action; it scorns apathy. James reminds us that spiritual freedom is not maintained without vigilance on our part. Verse 25 tells us that those who persevere in observing the law of liberty will receive the blessing of the Lord.
In the final verse of this chapter, James makes a striking statement. Genuine, acceptable, God-honoring worship is the result of two things. “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Again, if we look at the surface, we miss the total weight of this statement. As I ponder this, I hear again the words of Jesus. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets,” Matthew 22:37 – 40.
Keeping yourself from the world’s pollution is evidence of following the first commandment: loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Visiting the widows and orphans is evidence you love your neighbor as yourself. James used these two groups of people because they are not usually powerful or in positions of authority. They are powerless to provide any tangible reward to us for serving them. Those who genuinely serve them do so with a godly motivation to minister to “the least of these.”
The final contrast between the two responses to God’s Word is that the apathetic and self-deceived are content to fit in with the world. They look into the Word and respond, “whatever.” Those who are hearers only will tell you, “The only way to win the world for Christ is to be like them.” Their statement proves they have not looked into the perfect law of liberty.
The energetic, self-examining ones remain in the world but do what is necessary to keep from having the world stay in them. They will reject the world’s definition of success and find in Christ their model. “… whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
What do you see in the mirror of God’s Word? Do you read what it says and then turn and walk away even as the Spirit knocks at your heart? If so, I warn you that you are on a dangerous path away from God. At the final judgment, you risk hearing those fateful words, “Depart from me; I never knew you.” After all, the standard of judgment will be the Word of God.
If you are among those who look into the Word and seek diligently to know its author and its precepts and obey them, you will have a life of overflowing blessing. Will it be easy? No, the easy way leads to destruction. It will be difficult but worth the struggle to hear those blessed words, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”
Thanks, J Mark, for this teaching. As you heard, we have two options: deceive ourselves or examine ourselves. Of course, our plea is to examine ourselves and do what J Mark recommended. Because we know deception is tricky, people don’t usually know they are deceived. If they know it, it’s not deception anymore. We need humility and help to recognize deception.
Thanks again for joining us. If you have any questions about today’s teaching or want to hear it again, here is how you can reach us. Email is probably the best way. Our email is [email protected]. You can also contact us on our website, heraldsofhope.org. We would love to hear from you. Please use the method that is easiest for you.
Today, we have heard several times that we must be doers of the Word and not hearers only. This reminded me of the story of the wise and foolish man, where Jesus taught the same principle. Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” Don’t be foolish; take what you heard and be a doer. Let’s live out God’s Word.
*This episode is an exposition by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.