James 1:22-24
But be doers of the word, and not only hearers who deceive
yourselves. For any who are a hearer of the word, and not a doer, are like a
man seeing his natural face in a glass: For he sees himself, and goes his way,
and immediately forgets what manner of man he was.
Today, I want to share with you a message that calls us to action, to
live out our faith in tangible, meaningful ways. It is a message about being
not just hearers of God's Word, but doers of the Word. James 1 is a powerful
reminder that our faith is not just about hearing or reading God's Word, but
about putting it into action in our daily lives.
We live in a world that is full of noise. We are constantly
bombarded with information, opinions, and ideas. It can be easy to hear God's
Word, to nod in agreement, and then to go on with our lives as if nothing has
changed. But James challenges us to do more than just listen. He challenges us
to act.
It means to love our
neighbours as ourselves, to forgive those who have wronged us, to seek justice,
to show mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. It means to be the hands and
feet of Jesus in a world that so desperately needs His love and grace.
Consider, if you will, the parable of the Good Samaritan.
This narrative is more than an encouraging tale; it carries within it the essence
of our mission as believers. As followers of Christ, our role extends beyond
mere spectators; we are called to act, to become the very manifestation of
God's love. The Samaritan embodied the word of God not merely by sympathising
with the fallen traveller but by attending to his needs - demonstrating faith
in action.
The world needs more than kind words and good intentions. It
languishes for acts of love, gestures of kindness, and an equilibrium of
justice – the gospel come alive in human form. As followers of Christ, each one
of us is a beacon of hope, guiding others towards the divine light of
compassion, mercy, and righteousness.
Being doers of the word means to embody the fruits of the
Spirit - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. It means walking in tandem with the Spirit,
allowing your path to be etched with the marks of God's work and purpose in
your life. To be a doer is to be an advocate of God's peace, a reflection of
His love, and a steward of His creation.
In this journey of faith, we will inevitably stumble. There
will be times when we fail to answer the call to action. But let us remember
the prodigal son. Despite his errors and straying, he was received with an
embrace when he chose to return and repent. Our heavenly Father, radiant with
love and grace, firmly establishes His promise of redemption and renewal for
all who seek to practice His Word.
Being a doer of the Word is not always easy. It requires
courage, humility, and perseverance. It requires us to step out of our comfort
zones and to take risks. It requires us to put our faith into action, even when
it is hard, even when we do not feel like it, even when we do not see immediate
results. The mantle feels heavy, and the path forward may often seem daunting.
But, rest assured, dear brethren; the Lord provides strength to the weary and
increases the power of the weak.
But let me assure you, beloved, the rewards of being a doer
of the Word are immeasurable. When we put God's Word into action, we become
more like Jesus. We grow in our faith. We experience the joy and peace that
come from obeying God. And we make a difference in the lives of those around
us.
The apostle Paul gave us an exemplary model of a faithful
doer of the Word when he said, "I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul was a
man who walked the walk. Let his life encourage us to not only believe in God's
Word, but also to live it out in our daily life.
If the love of God has truly transformed us, it will show in
our actions. We will strive to be patient, kind, gentle, forgiving,
understanding, generous, and humble, just as Christ was and is to us. Our faith
will not solely be a matter of logic and intellect, but also of everyday deeds
and of love for one another.
In closing, I leave you with this encouragement from
Philippians 4:9, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from
me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
Let us strive not to just listen to God’s word, but to integrate it into our
lives, to become Doers of the Word. May God in His inexhaustible mercy guide us
as we strive to walk in His precepts.