Studies from the Book of James

No 10 "Take a Good Look in the Mirror " Ch 1 V 22-25

James has set forth the necessity for a proper response to the Word of God on the part of believers (V 21). This requires "a putting off" of all sinful habits and conduct and a willing submission to the Scriptures.

Some people emphasize sound doctrine as an end in itself. Their goal is to know more so that they may know more.

Others slight doctrine and place the emphasize on conduct. They are concerned about manifesting Christian love in their relationships and do not want to be bothered with the issues of biblical doctrine.

However, it is not possible to be a biblical Christian and hold such an attitude. God intends His children to be well grounded in sound doctrine and live lives that conform to that doctrine. The application of God’s Word is essential to making our faith work.

God’s Word is—

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

In fact we spiritualise things by saying, "We're under grace not works!" Now that is self-deception!  For grace saved us to become a doer of good works.

The Bible is the directory for a disciplined and a devout life; thus, the main business of the Christian should be doing the word of God. Blessing does not come simply by hearing great Biblical Truths.

It is not the hearing but the doing that produces the blessing. The question is, what are we doing about what we are hearing? It is better to do one sermon than to hear a thousand.

How did you learn to drive a car? Was it just by reading the manual? No, you listened to the instructor and then got in and tried to drive the car. You would not travel very far by just reading the manual.

How did you learn to play the piano? Was it just by listening to the teacher play? Or by reading the sheet music over and over again. No, you took these things and then put them into practise.

The blessing is in the doing. We must be those who intently look into the Word. In the Word we see what God would have us be and do. Then we must set about doing. As obedient hearers, whose lives are constantly doing the Word, we will experience the blessing of God. Let us be mindful that there is

Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. The word for "doer" is (poietes,) -- a performer.

When the real exam time is drawing near, he is out enjoying himself. He feels no pressure, while others are revising and swatting hard.

But when graduation comes and the diplomas are handed out, there is no cap or gown, or diploma for him. He has not made the grade and the only one that he cheated was himself.

This word "Deceive" is an accounting term, which means to "cheat, to miscalculate". How many Believers cheat themselves by miscalculating spiritual things, being hearers only?

They have heard all the teaching and they believe it. They think that hearing the Word, maybe even with great attention, is all that is necessary. But they just never make the grade.

By a process of faulty reasoning they deceive themselves. They stop short of applying the Word to their lives and living it out.

How embarrassed they will be, on the coming graduation day, when they stand before the Judgement seat of Christ.

Friends, we do not like it when someone deceives us, so why should we cheat ourselves, by being hearers only..

James is back to using picture language. The main purpose for a mirror is for self-examination. But it is possible to look into a mirror and then to go away and forget how we looked. When we look in a mirror we have 3 possible responses:

V 24 - Note the three steps here: looked . . . gone away . . . forgotten. "Out of sight, out of mind." This person has forgotten what he saw and the changes that needed to be made, for this was but

Have you ever found yourself described in these verses? Being Guilty of just a casual neglectful look?

Later a woman told him that she did not agree with this statement, for there were many factors, which might lead to a backslidden condition. The good doctor said "The Mirror does not lie" "Have you got a mirror in your bedroom" he asked, "I have," she replied. "Do you use it" he asked, Of course I do she replied

"Well, suppose you did not use the mirror for a week, could you be sure that your personal appearance would be such as you would like your friends to see". Oh, I would not be too sure about that,. Was her reply.

Then he took her to these verses in the book of James, which tell us that God’s Word is a Mirror, which gives us an accurate reflection of ourselves, and shows us what we are really like in God’s eyes; not what we thing we are, or what others say we are.

I don’t think that there is one of us who would not get up in the morning and look in the mirror without doing something about our appearance. Nor should we hear the word of God without acting on it. The Bible shows us what we are without all our pretences and make up.

1. Thinks, but he does not know, and looks but he does not see. His is but a superficial look and a superficial look produces superficial Christians.

The sad consequence of this look is that the word of God will never penetrate the deep and hard places of life to transform us the image of His Son

The person, who reads on the surface will live on the surface, and will never to enjoy that deeper holy fellowship with the Lord.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Discernment, Deep fellowship, and discipline of life are the rewards from earnest Bible study.

The Word of God is demanding. It demands a stretch of time in our day- it is the duty of the Believer to look attentively, and then to live accordingly. Not forgetting what they see.

Have you taken a good look at yourself lately in the Mirror of the Bible? Take time to look at yourself in the mirror of

Ps 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (KJV)

Jesus has said, "if you continue in my word ye are my disciples indeed" In keeping the word of God there is great reward. Neglecting it is a great danger.

When speaking of God’s ancient people Israel, the writer to the Hebrews gives a warning to the Church of today.

Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

They failed to enter into the peace of God’s rest. They failed to develop into what God intended them to be.

They failed to enjoy the fullness of the blessings, which their God had in the storehouse of His Grace for them.

They came short! How often we can loose out because we take but a casual look at the Lord and His word, which He has given for our enrichment?

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. (KJV)

James uses the simple conjunction "But" to introduce someone with a very different approach to the Word of God. He shows us a man who takes

The word that is translated "Looketh" means to look intently, to stoop down to look in order to see something. This is not just a casual glance.

In John 20:5 we have this same word. When John came to the sepulcher " Stooping down, and looking in, he saw the linen clothes lying"

Then after Peter and John had gone, Mary stood at the sepulcher weeping and as she wept she "stopped down and looked into the sepulcher".

They looked carefully and intently into the empty tomb and we are to look intently into the Bible.

This means that the "Word of God" is to be our rulebook for living. It contains commandments that are always for our good. God’s word is a liberating word and when we obey it, we are set free from, Self, Satan and Sin, and are enabled to serve God.

The Careful looker will discern these things.

The Greek word for "continue" is (par-am-en'-o)

It is not enough to have fits and starts, or an occasional burst of enthusiasm followed by weeks of apathy and neglect.

The Christian, who wants to get somewhere with God and wants to develop in Spiritual growth, must not only look into His word, but also continue to do so.

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

In Acts 13, we find Paul and Barnabus exhorting men to continue in the "Grace of God" James is exhorting that believers continue in the Word.

James 1:25 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.

A man is not blessed in proportion to the amount of Biblical knowledge he accumulates. The blessing comes with his obedience to what God has revealed to him. He will be blessed in his soul.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

John Howe once wrote

You who treat the crown of writing

As you treat no other book

Just a paragraph disjointed

Just a casual and impatient look

Try a worthier procedure

Try a broad and steady view

You will kneel in very rapture

When you read your Bible through.