“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it–not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it–THEY WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT THEY DO.” (James 1:22-25)
James refers to God’s Word as a mirror. The mirror helps us evaluate ourselves. Once you look at a mirror, you can decide if you need to make any changes before you leave for the day. THE BIBLE DOES THAT FOR US AS WELL.
You can look at the Bible in one of two ways. You can GLANCE at the mirror or GAZE [look intently] into it. On the old TV show “Happy Days,” the Fonz would glance at the mirror. He’d walk past the mirror, stop, consider it, and say, “Hey!” He didn’t have to do anything else. He was pure perfection. He just needed a glance.
That’s not the way you consider God’s Word. You don’t just glance at the Word of God in a rushed, hurried manner and then leave. GLANCING AT GOD’S WORD WON’T CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
Do you want a life that God blesses? It all starts with GAZING into God’s Word. James 1:22-25 gives you the blueprint for how to study God’s Word in a way that he blesses.
- Read your Bible. “… whoever looks intently …”
- Review the Bible. “… and continues in it …”
- Remember the Bible. “…not forgetting what they have heard…”
- Respond to the Bible. “… but doing it …”
Think about this:
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What difference do you notice in your day when you gaze into God’s Word instead of just glancing at it?
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Does the amount of time you set apart for your quiet time leave you enough time to read, review, remember, and respond to God’s Word?