JAMES, Sarah Barry
LISTENING AND DOING
Passage: James 1:19~25  
Key verse: 25
Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters,(A) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak(B) and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger(C) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of(D) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,(E) which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.(F) 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,(G) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.(H)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Humbly accept the planted word (19-21)
Some people don't think before they act; they just react. We must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Angry reactions to another's words or deeds can never produce a godly life; nor can a mind/heart full of moral filth produce a life that pleases God. The righteous life that God desires grows out of the word planted in our hearts. The word is planted when we hear God's word and humbly accept it. This word leads us to our Savior.
2. God's word is a mirror (22-25)
Studying God's word is like looking into a mirror. Sometimes we don't like what we see, and we had rather not look. But if we overcome our feelings and look intently into the perfect law of God and continue to do so, not forgetting what we have seen, we will find real freedom.
Prayer: Lord, help me to look into the mirror of your word every day. Help me to live according to that word. Work in me through your word until I can reflect your image.
One Word: Don't just listen; do it