![[Graphic of a Scripture verse]](http://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/James_1_22.jpg)
| “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves, Do what it says.” |
| —James 1:22 |
Whenever we receive an instruction from someone, we may intend to listen carefully, but at least once in a while our attention wanders and we miss some really important information. Research tells us that some individuals have a very hard time receiving instruction of any kind from someone they do not like. Research also has shown that some people become more easily distracted than others.
For example, a spot on the necktie of the instructor may cause some people to focus on that spot, wonder how it got there, and total miss what the instructor shares with the class. Similarly, a man with a very busy beard may distract some people who wonder if something lives inside. They focus all their attention on that beard because they don’t want to miss anything that might drop out of the beard.
Even more troubling to sincere instructors are those who seem to listen very carefully to the instruction. These attentive ones may even take extensive notes. But, when it comes to putting the instructions into practice, it’s as if they never heard a word the instructor told them. They simply ignore the very helpful and necessary details the instructor so painstakingly shared.
The Apostle James addresses his fellow believers in the Lord Jesus Christ about this very topic in James 1:22:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves, Do what it says.
It’s not enough to focus our attention on what your pastor shares during his weekly message. Nor is it enough to simply read God’s Word, the Bible, every day. Unless we put into practice what God tells us to do, we miss the mark entirely.
Let’s make this day a day of action. Let’s determine to now only listen to what our loving God says to us through His Word and His servants, let’s do what He says. We will be far better off if we become doers of His Word and not mere listeners.
