But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
James 1:22 TLV
As a new Christian, this scripture is one of the first we learn. It’s crucial to do the Word. James’ famous exhortation can lead us worried types to make mental checklists to ensure we do it. After all, who wants to be deceived? Doing what God says seems like an easy enough proposition, and checking boxes helps. But how often do we stop and ask ourselves, “Did I really do it?”
I realize many times I think about the Word or speak the Word and assume it’s actually done. But did I really do it?
The Problem
As Believers, we study the Word, we preach it, we share the Word, and memorize it, and we think we did the Word. But often we never take that next step of action or application. I work with God’s Word as if it is a tool or object to study and use. But I fool myself because study and memorization are not the same as doing it.
Here’s the delusion. Imagine reading a manual to fix a broken washing machine, then setting it down and moving on to the next thing. Simply reading the manual doesn’t fix the machine. Taking what you read and doing it brings the change. This is James’ point. Reading the scriptures, then laying them down and going our way, makes us forgetful hearers and not doers. We are just like that broken washing machine; we stay the same.
The Word Becomes Us
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,
he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror—
for once he looks at himself and goes away,
he immediately forgets what sort of person he was.
James 1:23-24 TLV
What we do on a regular basis truly becomes part of us. If I really do the actual words of God, instead of simply studying them, a mysterious synergy transpires between me and the doing. James teaches that when we don’t do the Word, we go on our way and forget who we are. Conversely, we can assume that when we do the Word, we can know who we are. Our sense of identity as Christians is closely linked to doing the Word. Doing causes transformation and reinforces our identity in Jesus.
Like the broken washing machine, when we train ourselves to be doers, God changes us. He fixes our broken parts and polishes us to shine. Doing is a process. We must stay awake and periodically ask ourselves, “Did I really do it?”
The Clear-Cut Dos
Much of God’s Word instructs us how to treat those around us. As believers, we gravitate to this type of doing as the actions are external and clear cut. For example:
God wants us to feed the poor, care for the widows and orphans, and help the homeless. We visit the prisoners and care for the sick. Many churches and charities establish programs to do these works, and we can participate or do them personally.
Another good example is the 10 commandments. Don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t lie, etc. The directions are clear – maybe not easy – but clear for how to do God’s words.
God asks us to do His word within our relationships.
Forgive your brother when he sins against you. Be kind and compassionate. Encourage one another and build each other up. Honor those in authority over you. Love and bless your enemies and do good to them.
There are so many more, but as we practice doing the Word, we slowly change, and that transformation is seen by others.
Self Dos
Other scriptures address our internal condition. God desires that we build godly character to be like Jesus. The action takes place within us as we wrestle to replace our old thoughts and ways with God’s thoughts and ways.
We battle the old by doing the new, taking every thought captive. We choose – His ways or our ways. We make the repair or stay broken. Doing is a choice.
Paul provides us with many To Do lists, but here is one for our thoughts.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable
— if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—
dwell on these things.
NOTE Philippians 4:8 TLV
When we do the Word, we nurture the fruit of God’s Spirit within us of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In doing these, we become beautiful like Jesus.
Psalm 63 and Me
When I turned 63, I decided to memorize Psalm 63 and pray it throughout the year. I prepared my notes and began to memorize and declare the words aloud.
O God, You are my God,
earnestly I seek You.
My soul thirsts for You.
My flesh longs for You
in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
Psalm 63:2 TLV
What beautiful poetic language. Living here on earth feels dry and weary, and I do long for God’s presence. Verse 3:
So, I looked for You in the Sanctuary,
to see Your power and Your glory.
Wow – Just like being in church, I look for Him there, with my church family, watching for His power and glory. Hallelujah! Verse 4:
Since Your lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips will praise You.
Then I had the strangest thought. “So, why don’t you do it?”
I just kept going.
So I will bless You as long as I live.
In Your name I lift up my hands.
My soul is satisfied as with fat and oil,
so my mouth praises You with joyful lips.
“Then why don’t you do this?”
I stopped and asked myself, “Am I really doing it or just praying it?”
Suddenly, I realized, in proclaiming these words, I was both blessing and praising God. But these words are just the directions for how to do it. My mouth had to PRAISE Him, and not just say scripture.
HOW TO DO PRAISE and BLESSING
Praising Him. Now it was time for me to do the Word. The word praise in verse 3 carries the meaning of praising in a loud, triumphant tone; in other words, not silently in my head!
Since Your lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips will praise You.
Here’s how to start:
1– Look at the scripture to understand it. What is God asking you to do?
This verse points to God’s loving kindness so I anchored my praise on that.
2 – Recall how God fulfilled that scripture in your life and praise out loud. Be specific.
This verse directs me to praise God with my mouth in response to His lovingkindness for me.
Here’s an example:
“When I was afraid and stressed in my work, and wicked people came after me, You protected me with Your invisible hands. You frustrated their plans to harm me and kept me safe. Father, You covered me with Your lovingkindness, so I praise You!”
Point to specific times when He covered you with love and kindness.
So I will bless You as long as I live.
This Hebrew word for bless means to bless by kneeling down in adoration. So, pray something like this:
“Father, I gladly bow before You and say – You are my God. You are great and mighty and kind and merciful. I will bless you as long as I live.” Then you can list specific reasons why you adore Him.
If I really want to do the Word, I physically bow down as I bless Him. Why not? If the scripture says, I bow down and worship You, why not bow down and worship Him? If it says dance for joy, why not try it? I know we can’t see Him, but He sees us, and we bring Him joy when we do the Word.
In Your name I lift up my hands.
I love doing this one, because God has so many awesome names in the scripture. As I lift up my hands to Heaven, I call God by His names and praise Him for how He did it in my life.
“God You are Jehovah Rapha – God my Healer.” Then I tell specific healings in my life.
“Father God, You are Jehovah Shalom, God my Peace. No matter what trial or war zones I have walked through, You have been with me, Your rod and staff comforted me.” Then I praise Him for specific moments when He was Shalom to me.
Think about His names; there are so many: God our provider, Father, Savior, Redeemer, The Way, The Truth, The Life, the Lion of Judah roaring over His people, etc. There are so many names you can use as you lift up your hands and praise.
The Promise
As we become doers of the Word, God changes us inside and out. When we are doers of blessing and praising, darkness lifts and joy comes.
James ends his exhortation with a promise of blessing for the doers of the Word.
But the one who looks intently into the perfect Torah, the Torah that gives freedom,
and continues in it, not becoming a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts—
he shall be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25 TLV
I can tell you, my 63rd year is bringing new life and joy to my relationship with Jesus. Now, when I ask myself, “Did I really do it?”