Imagine someone telling you that they forgot what they looked like.
They tell you, “I was looking in the mirror this morning and then as I left go to work, I couldn’t remember if I had blonde hair or dark hair; brown eyes or blue eyes”.
We’d probably suggest they speak to their doctor.
In the book of James, in the Bible, we read of a similar condition - people who hear God’s word, but then forget what it says.
They are content to look into the pages of the Bible but then ignore it, and fail to put it into practice.
But those with real faith are encouraged to do the opposite; not just to read and hear to what God says, but to do what it says.
That’s the mark of real faith, says James.
Indeed, reading and listening to God’s word ought to change our behaviour - behaviour that is fitting for those who call themselves followers of Jesus.
God’s word must have a noticeable impact on how we live our lives.
The book of James is a hard-hitting letter to those who consider themselves to be Christians, to tell them to “pull-up their spiritual socks”.
For many it is an uncomfortable read because it challenges us to consider if we have a real faith - a faith seen by the way we live out God’s word in our life.
Our belief in Jesus must be seen in our decidedly biblical behaviour.
We won’t be perfect, and God offers forgiveness and grace in Jesus when we fall short.
But, let us none-the-less strive not only to be hearers of the word, but doers as well.
~ Contributed by Pastor Chris Taylor of the Deniliquin Baptist Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
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