“But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22ESV)
‘Hearers’ say one thing then do another.
Post angry tweets and rants on social media. Then won’t bother to have a face to face conversation.
They can tell you how important their families are. Then neglect and abuse them with words or blows.
Talk about people being made in God’s image. Then speak to them and about them with condescension and disdain.
Proclaim the Word of God as authoritative in our lives. Then ignore the parts about_________ (fill in the blank: taking care of the poor, the fatherless, and the immigrant, honoring your parents, avoiding sexual immorality, or any other part we disagree with...)
Put on a good face Sunday morning, listen to sermons and Christian music. Then walk away as if nothing happened.
When we slip into being hearers, which is all so easy to do, we are kidding ourselves.
Doers are something altogether different.
“Doers” translates the Greek word poites, meaning maker, producer, author, or poet.
Doers “do justice” (Micah 6:8, along with loving mercy and walking humbly with God).
Doers make God’s Word come to life with others by example.
Doers produce love, joy, and peace by being patient, kind, good, gentle, faithful and self-controlled (Gal 5:22-23).
Doers author letters and laws that uphold truth with grace, with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
Doers are the poets of God’s Word, with and without spoken language.
Let’s be doers.