The Perfect Romance

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (James 1:22-24)

This is truly one of my favorite passages in the Word of God.  Just so you know, I have many favorites for all occasions.  This passage is my favorite because it reminds me I can’t truly know who I am, if I don’t study God’s Word.  And I certainly will never be able to know who God is, if I don’t study Him in the letters He wrote to me.  There are plenty of romance novelists trying to come up with the perfect novel and plenty of producers trying to create the perfect romance on screen.  I’ll let you in on a little secret… the reason they keep coming short of the greatest romance is because it’s already been written for you and I.  It’s all right here in the Word of God.  Just open it up and let it change your life.  The perfect romance has been set up from beginning to end.  Nothing has been left out!

So what happens when you depend on others to read the Word for you or when you read but don’t apply it?  Let me share from James what the Word can do for you, if you read it and apply it!

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

Maybe you are one of the people who think it’s great to hear the Word at church or from your parents, but you don’t take the time to read it for yourself.  Hold on a minute!  What are you doing?  You have allowed yourself to be fed on baby milk.  God wants more for you.  He wants you to read from His Word and see what He has written for you.  You cannot merely depend on others to tell you what is in the Word.  They don’t know how to apply it to your life.  God wants to speak directly to YOU through His Word.  Take the time to open it up and allow God to speak to your heart.

“Do what it says.”

This is plain and simple.  Do what the Bible says.  No, God is not asking too much from you.  He is asking just enough to keep you out of danger.  He has great plans for you and He wants to see you succeed.  How can you succeed if you follow your path of destruction and not His path of optimal living?  If you need to forgive someone, forgive them.  If you need to love someone, love them.  If you need to show compassion, show compassion.  If there is something you need to give up for God, than do it.  Please do everything to the glory of God.

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”

What do you see when you look into the Word of God?  Do you see a man/woman who desires to follow God in every way?  Will you go the extra mile for God?  What kind of reflection for God will you be?  Your inner reflection is a whole lot more important than your outer appearance.  So the next time you look in the mirror, imagine that God is holding up an extra mirror for your heart and soul… What’s the condition there?  Does anything need to change?  May you become a reflection of the love letter God has written for you.

Dear Father God, I praise You for placing me in the perfect romance.  There is no movie or romance novel that can capture my heart like Your Word does.  Your Word is perfect and only You know how to love me unconditionally.  Thank You for writing Your sweet love letter to me.  May I cherish it all the days of my life and may I reflect it every day that I’m alive!

Cherishing God’s Word,