Doing: What It Says.

James 1:22
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says

Have you ever heard someone say: "do as I say, not as I do?" That's like someone who's teaching you how to drive says this is what's right, but I don't do that. It's okay for them to go a little bit over the speed limit, roll through the stop sign, or change lanes without a turn signal, but it definitely wasn't okay for me to do that because I was a new driver who lacked experience.

In many cases, I guess this can be true and makes some sense. However, we have to be careful when we become so systematic in what we do that we become unaware of what we should and should not do. When this happens as we're driving, we're more likely to disregard the traffic laws and not follow what the driver's book says to do setting a bad example for those watching.

Similarly, in our lives as a Christian we can take the same systematic approach. We say, "Oh the Bible says pray more, trust God, etc." so I'm good since I understand that now. Therefore, we check our daily reading off the list. However, we often just ignore this acquired knowledge when it comes to the application. At times, none of what we read is reflected in our life. Just because we listen to the Word and understand what it says, we feel accomplished without actually putting it into good use.

Finally, don't think that two wrongs make a right. Just because you did something wrong, that doesn't mean it balances out the wrong. Maybe you decided to go to church Sunday, and so that balances the fact that you ignored God yesterday. That's a terrible habit. All in all, you should listen and then do as God says!