"Do not merely listen to The Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22 (NIV) The King James Versions says: "But be ye doers of The Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
The author, James, the half brother of Jesus, wanted his readers to know that it is not enough to hear The Word of God. One must believe it, internalize it, and put it into practice in their life.
When we know better, then we ought to do better. If we hear The Word of God, and if we understand what it is saying, it should change our behavior. If it goes over our head, or if it goes in one ear and out of the other without making a difference in us, then we may as well not have heard it. Believers are changed by The Word of God, not perfect, but different. We no longer get the same pleasure out of our sin because we know that it is not pleasing to God. We know that we have been changed because some sin no longer appeals to us. However, we have some sins that we struggle with, and pray to God for help with because they are like an addiction. The good news is that the more time that we spend talking to God in prayer, and reading His Holy Word, the less time we spend in sinful activities. So, when we are tempted to sin, we need to pick up our Bible and read it. Then we need to try to live like it says that we should live. Be doers of The Word.
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