Look At Intently and Do

In review of James 1:25 it says, “He 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.”

Bottom Line:

If you look into his perfect law, and not only remember it, but practice it, you’ll receive blessings.

What this means to me:

If I keep looking into and adopting God’s word in how I live, not only remembering it, but really practicing it, God has promised to bless me and what I do.

Today’s verse comes from the last part of James chapter 1. In this section James is telling me about listening and doing. He wants me to understand the value in being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. For my anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. I am to get rid of all the filth and evil in my life, and humbly accept the word God has planted into me. Furthermore, I must not only listen to God’s word, I must do what it says, otherwise I’m only fooling myself. For if I only listen but don’t obey, then it's much like glancing at myself in the mirror, but then walking away and forgetting what I look like. For if I carefully look at the perfect law that sets me free, and I do what it says, not forgetting what it says, then God will bless me for doing it.

Today, as I look into the mirror, I should consider what do I see?  Is it an outlook of hope, or is it one of being dissatisfied or lost?  As much as I try, I will not be the general manager of the universe. The only thing that I can change is me. So If I don’t like the person I see when I look at the mirror, it’s time to adjust.  But I must keep in mind that I cannot change what I won’t confront.

If I have trouble pinpointing what needs changing or have lost contact with myself I should consider where I’m spending my time. Where I spend my free hours is a direct reflection of who I am. I should spend time meditating on and absorbing God’s word.

I should not accept a lifestyle that compromises who God wants me to be. So I should stop living a tired lift and start living one to it’s fullest.  As I put my hope and trust in Him, I’ll have a much fuller life.