A key to growing and flourishing in Christ is the Word of God. An estimated 69% of American adults are professing Christians. Yet, only 9% of these professing followers of Christ claim to have a biblical worldview. In other words, 91% of professing believers receive their understanding of God, the world, themselves, and others from sources other than the Bible. This is a tragic reality since God’s Word is critical for a believer to grow and flourish in Christ.
In the first 18 verses of the first chapter of the book of James, we discover that we believers live amidst conflict, just like everyone else. However, there is an inner conflict that we contend with also between two natures at play within us (sinful nature or old self and sanctified nature or new self). The good news is that God’s Word has the power to lead us to victory over the old self and walk in the newness we have received in Christ. Although this conflict lasts while on this side of paradise, it might be hard, but it’s not fruitless. What must the believer do to live in the liberty granted to us by the Lord? We must be doers of the Word.
James writes, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” ( James 1:19-20). In order to be doers of the word, we must first hear the word. It’s by hearing the Word of God that the energies of the new nature (sanctified nature) are moved into action. James seems to mix together the two ideas of getting on with people and going on with God. Our growing in Christ is easily understood by gauging our ability to not have to speak all the time and not allow anger to fester into sin. In this sense, life is the pressure test; it determines the genuine integrity of what we are hearing from God from His Word. Those determined to listen to God train themselves to be listeners, controlling the tongue and possessing a calm temper.
Further, to be a doer of the Word, a believer must receive God’s Word. We read, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Here, we discover four aspects of receiving the Word. First, we must “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness.” Second, we ought to have an attitude of “meekness.” Thirdly, we should understand that wheat needs to be received is the “implanted word” or Word of God. Lastly, the expected result is that the Word has the power to save. We dig out the weeds of filthiness and wickedness, understanding they can grow back, but with God’s help, in part by conforming to His Word, we can do the continual work to have a well-manicured growing field for Christ. Every day should provide us with some fresh evidence that we are saved, that God’s Spirit is at work within us, and that the Lord is increasingly making us whole. James is not arguing that we are saved by works but that those who are saved do righteous works.
In order to be doers of the Word, James shares one last thing. We must obey the Word. He proclaims, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:22-25).
The example James presents us with is a man looking in the mirror. He looks into the mirror and compares himself with himself. Then he goes away, forgetting what he sees. That is the problem. When we look into a mirror or into a theology that is established by our standards, usually, we tend to look alright. We’re deceived into thinking we’re okay. But, glancing into a mirror is not enough. We need to peer into God’s Word day by day. We must listen closely to what He is saying to us through His Word. After listening, by faith, we can be doers of His Word – following Him in active obedience.
You could say, “I spent fifty minutes this mourning reading the Bible – and I can remember what I read. It was a super, uninterrupted time.” James would say, “Well done! But now, what about obeying the Word you read? Have you actually changed your mind so that you now hold to be true what you learned in the Word? How are you going to apply what you just read? We grow and flourish in the Lord when we express God’s Word in Christlike conduct.
We are genuinely free when we live the life appropriate to those created in God’s image. The law of God, His Word, safeguards liberty for us, but it does even more, for obedience brings life and power (Lev 18:5; Deut 4:1; Acts 8:32). The law of God is “the law of liberty” because it safeguards, expresses, and enables a life of freedom into which Christ brought us.
The blessings of a growing and flourishing life in Christ comes from not just hearing of the Word but being doers of God’s Word. Only in Christ can we actually be free. Only when we know the truth through Jesus Christ can we be genuinely free (John 8:32). The life of the doer of God’s Word enjoys the good life in Christ. There are lifestyles that are far easier, but there are none better. The doer enjoys life at its very best. He or she is not deceived but is set free in Jesus Christ to enjoy a life of liberty and blessing. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!