JAMES 1:22
"Do not just listen to God's Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise you are only fooling yourself."
When you are told to do something by someone in authority, do you do it? As a pupil when a teacher tells you to implement a concept or idea, do you do it? When your parents tell you something to protect you from harm, do you listen to them? If you fail to obey and do not listen to wise counsel, then you are living an illusion. Just as your reflection in a mirror is an illusion, your failure to listen to God's counsel and Word is just fooling yourself. Unless we implement the Word of God it will be of no value!
God does not want us to just hear His Word. We must put His word into action. If we do not do as the Lord requests then we are fooling others and ourselves, but not God. We must not be just hearer's of the Word, but we must be doer's also. When we refuse to listen we are only punishing ourselves. Bad choices, such as not listening, lead to bad results and we and we alone are responsible for the consequences.
We must be who we say we are. We can not fake it. If you are a fraud, you are also foolish. If you say you are a child of God, then you must be obedient and listen to His Words. After you listen and learn, you must implement and put into action what you have been taught. If you do not obey you are deceiving yourself and the one who taught you. God as our heavenly parent loves us and only wants the best for us. We can trust Him and what He teaches us. Our part is to LISTEN AND THEN OBEY GOD!
