“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. 

Do what it says.” James 1:22 NIV

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It’s time for action!

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Self-deception… it’s kind of like self-hypnosis. By following a learned routine, we can convince ourselves of something that’s a bit different than reality.

A lot of Christians have routines. We go to church. We read our Bibles. We pray. We follow certain disciplines we’ve been taught to follow, because that’s what Christians do.

The truth is these routines are healthy; they’re necessary if we’re going to experience Spiritual Formation and growth. They’re avenues God has put in place for us to get to know Him and what He wants in our lives. 

These routines are all well and good, BUT…

What good is it to hear a sermon, or read Scripture or even pray if it doesn’t change us? According to James, it doesn’t do us any good; in fact, it can be quite harmful because it leads us into a wrong belief that those routines and how well we do them are the way we measure our spiritual growth. 

I believe Christians get confused with the idea of “doing.” If asked this question, “What do you do to grow spiritually?” most Christians would answer that they go to church, read their Bible and pray. That’s the “doing” that can be confusing and deceiving.

The true answer should be that after going to church, reading Scripture and praying, we do what we now know to do. Borrowing the title to a well-known study Bible, we make “life application” of what God has revealed to us. We apply the newly learned truth to our life.

There’s a quote from an unknown author which suggests the same thing James said: “Too many churchgoers are singing ‘Standing on the Promises’ when all they are doing is sitting on the premises.” It’s kind of comical, and yet it isn’t. 

It’s great to say “amen” during a sermon. It’s awesome to highlight inspiring Scriptures. How wonderful to weep over someone we’re praying for. But if the “amens,” highlights and tears never lead us to action, we’re deceiving ourselves. 

Have we allowed ourselves to be deceived into thinking we're more spiritually mature because we take notes during the sermon, or because we read 5 chapters of the Bible a day, or because we keep an up-to-date prayer list? 

Let’s really check our spiritual maturity. Let's ask the right questions. 

1. What has God revealed recently? 

2. Has that revelation made a difference in my life? 

3. Have I applied that new understanding of truth?

Answered honestly, these questions don’t leave room for self-deception!

Reminder: Don’t be fooled! Don’t just listen… DO IT!