“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” James 1: 23-24

My sister Harriet often tells the memory of my Aunt Rebecca chastising her for not listening; she was always busy playing with her dolls, and on one occasion Aunt Rebecca was telling her something to do, but she was totally ignoring Aunt Rebecca, suddenly she gets smack upside the head by our aunt, who very sternly said, “Listen to me when I am talking to you girl!” That got her attention!

To follow any instructions, we must carefully listen with the intent to carry them out. James 1:23-24 gives a vivid example of the failure to act on the instructions we receive in the Word of God. “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

We all get up in the morning and look in the mirror. . . we then proceed with grooming ourselves before leaving the house. But, if the state of our appearance after rising from bed is ignored, we soon forget what we saw in the first place! Of course, someone along the way will most likely point out our disheveled hair or turned up collar- the choice is then ours…will we stop and fix the problem or ignore it?

Likewise, and more importantly, is when we hear the word of God and we neglect to feed on what we have heard; going on our merry way, just like the forgetful riser, ignoring the need for some fine tuning in our spiritual lives…the enemy of our souls loves to help us walk in the deception that we’re perfectly okay! “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” James 1:22.

Change takes courage or fortitude, the determination to overcome our first condition, and to do that we must listen…in this case to the Holy Spirit’s leading. What are you seeing in the mirror this morning- are you willing to change and grow- can your life be an advertisement for the excellency of our Lord and Savior?

Let us each take introspection of what we see in the mirror of our souls, be willing to listen with our whole heart and humbly follow wherever the Holy Spirit leads. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:25.

God’s blessings of joy and peace be with you always.