Aug
23
Don’t Forget
Filed Under Devotional
I’m disappointed and saddened. Earlier in my life, I would have been angry and felt that it was justified, but now, it just makes me sad to see so many people spiritually stunted. I had a realization this last Sunday that, as our church grows, the group of those who serve seems to be about the same or maybe even smaller. As one of those servants, I used to get angry when I realized what a small percentage we represented. Now, with some more perspective, I am sad because so many of those folks have stalled our or have sold themselves short. They aren’t experiencing everything Jesus meant for them.
I read James 1 with a deeper recognition. I never really understood the man in the mirror reference before. I think I’m getting it now:
“But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” James 1:22-24
James is pointing out that if you hear the Word and believe it, the effect is living it out. If you don’t display that kind of life, then it’s as if you have forgotten who you are. This has been mistaken as a works-based salvation, but it’s not that at all. James is describing the natural effect of following Christ.
I like the phrase he uses: “forgets what kind of man he was.” Imagine looking in the mirror, turning around, and having no recollection of what you just saw. It’s silly both in that you just saw it and that you have a pretty good idea of what you look like anyway. What kind of man are you?
How can you claim to hear the Word and then act as if you never heard it? How can you, on a regular basis, go to church, worship, take notes, throw a few bucks in the basket, bolt early to beat traffic, and consider yourself a hearer of the Word? Don’t be a consumer Christian! The Body of Christ is one of mutual support and service as we follow Christ together. This is not free food and entertainment on Sunday mornings! Church is not something you observe and attend, it is a community of which you are a part and in which you participate.
Don’t forget what kind of man you are.
Do the Word because you’ve heard the Word.