A Different Perspective on “Be Doers of the Word, Not Hearers Only”

James 1:22-25 (NKJV)

²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ 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; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

One of the most-often quoted scriptures in the New Testament is found in the book of James. It has become a plumb-line for believers who are seeking to do God’s will in their lives. It reminds us that hearing the Word of God is not enough, but we must apply what God’s Word says to situations in our lives for it to come full circle.

Without minimizing the importance of that view of James 1: 22-25, a well-known minister of the gospel offered a different perspective on the importance of being a “doer of the word and not a hearer only.”

His focus centered on our identity in Christ. His question was simply to ask, “Am I a doer of the Word when it comes to being who God says I am? For example…

You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). Read Romans 8:31-39 to find the expansiveness of this statement. Are you a doer of the Word and experience life not just an overcomer, but “more “than a conqueror? Do you face life’s challenges as a victim or a victor? A well-known minister of the gospel said God once told her, “You can be a victim or a victor, but you cannot be both.” You can stop the tug of war between victimhood and victory by declaring Romans 8:37 over situations that are contrary to the Word. That’s being a doer of the Word.

You are free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1,2). Do you feel guilt, shame, or regret over anything in your life? You shouldn’t if you are a doer of the Word, because the BLOOD of Jesus has taken those things from our lives. Will guilt, shame and regret try to come on us at times? Very definitely. But we can stop those things dead in their tracks by declaring Romans 8:1, 2 when those thoughts come. That’s being a doer of the Word.

You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Righteous means “being in right-standing with God.” And it means that we are righteous now in the present, not just later when we get to heaven. The Word says we are in right-standing with God and justified (meaning “just as if we had never sinned”) because of the shed BLOOD of Jesus. John 17:23 goes as far as to say God loves us as much as He loves Jesus. Is that easy to believe (especially on days when your behavior does not line up with God’s Word)? Not at all! But you can shut those thoughts and emotions down by declaring 2 Corinthians 5:21 in the midst of the bad day and bad behavior. That’s being a doer of the Word.

The Bible is full of declarations made by God Himself on what He sees when He looks at us – on the good days and the bad. His perspective of us never changes – it’s all good all the time. And, the bonus for us is this. When we begin declaring what He says about us and focus on His perspective and not on what we see in the natural, becoming a doer of the Word becomes exponentially easier. The unforgiveness, the anger, and selfish tendencies begin to give way to the person God created us to be – the person who is being changed from “glory to glory”  into the image of Christ ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). Expand your perspective of being a doer of the Word and watch your life change!  

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