Posted by
TAB on Saturday, November 01, 2008 7:18:20 AM
The Casual Observer
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. " James 1:22-24 (KJV)
Doing the Word is the practice of what God teaches. James likens it to a mirror or according to the KJV a "glass". We should understand that the mirrors of that day were not real clear for preparing one’s self for the day ahead. They used polished brass. Maybe in some cases they had a clearer view than others of themselves, and maybe not.
Even in this 21st century if a mirror is cracked or twisted it gives us a distored view of ourselves. Mirrors can be made to make us look thinner, which seems to be the going thing today. Thus, deceiving ourselves.
The individual mentioned in verse 24 of our text today is the one who just takes a casual look into the mirror. The casual look spends no time finding need to groom, or even to clean one’s face. That, sad to say is how many people approach the Word of God; even some Christians approach it that way; if at all.
They may spend a moment reading a chapter, a verse, and maybe even a few chapters, but they do not hear what God has said. They have their mind on the day at work. They have their mind on the problems they may face today, or the problem that was left over from last week. Then, they wonder, "Why do I not see God at work in my life?" The answer to that question or thought is; because you don’t let God work in your life. You are too busy with you.
When it comes to the Christian and the Word of God we cannot be a casual observer. The casual observer of God’s Word would be like sitting down at the table to eat a meal of T-bone steak, baked potato, with your favorite vegetable, and favorite dessert, then getting away from the table and not know what you ate. I use T-bone steak because that is my favorite steak. I know when I have eaten T-bone steak. When we sit to eat our favorite meal we savor it, we taste it, we enjoy it. The same should be said of our reading and study of God’s Word.
Put away those problems you think you might have today. Sit down in a quiet place with God and His Word. Take your favorite copy of the Bible - God’s Word - and in the tranquility of the moments that you have open your heart and mind solely to the Word of God and the God of the Word. If you just casually see the words they will make no difference in your life. If, on the other hand, you will hear those words, and have the Spirit of God make them come alive you will find that you will not forget what you have read, and it will give you strength and grace to make it through the day ahead.
Go and worship the Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday.
-Tim A. Blankenship