James 1:22 - More Than Listeners

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

Wasting no time, James gets straight to the point in one sentence. He exposes a great, but quiet danger in our spiritual lives:  confusing hearing God’s Word with obeying it. 

Many of us are excellent listeners. We are consistent at attending worship. We regularly read Scripture, and recognize many familiar passages. Some of us have favorite Bible-related podcasts and programs we listen to often. But James warns that it is possible to do all of that and still deceive ourselves.

Now, that word, “deceive”, is important. Self-deception usually feels like confidence, and it can convince us we’re doing well spiritually simply because—well, after all—we are informed. But knowledge alone does not equal faithfulness. Jesus, Himself, asked the same hard question in Luke 6:46: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Having the knowledge of some respectful words, and even having some religious habits, mean little if they are not followed by obedience.

James compares God’s Word to a mirror (James 1:23). A mirror shows us the truth about ourselves, but it cannot fix anything. Looking into a mirror and walking away unchanged is pointless—and yet that is exactly what happens when we hear Scripture, recognize its truth, and then do nothing. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God’s Word is living and active, meant to search the heart and move us toward change, not mere agreement.

Right after washing His disciple’s feet, Jesus emphasized this same truth. He said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17). Notice—the blessing is not in knowing what is right, but in living it out. Obedience is where faith becomes real.

James is not calling for perfection, but sincerity. We may not understand everything in Scripture, but we can always obey what we do understand. Faith grows through small, daily acts of obedience—choosing honesty, forgiving when it’s hard, controlling our words, trusting God when circumstances are unclear.

Obedience is not about earning God’s love. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15). Obedience flows from love, trust, and gratitude—not fear.

James 1:22 leaves us with a simple but challenging question:  What am I doing with what I already know? Not what I plan to do someday—but how I am responding now. A faith that listens and obeys becomes steady, resilient, and genuine. That is the kind of faith James calls us to live—and the kind of faith that truly listens.

James 2:17 - Don't Just Talk the Talk - Walk the Walk!

James 2:17

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

We’ve all been there — promising to do something and then never getting around to it. Like when you say you’re going to start exercising… but then your couch is just so comfortable. That’s a lot like faith without action — it’s not going anywhere. In James 2:17, we get hit with a hard truth: "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Just saying you believe isn’t enough. Faith needs to roll up its sleeves and get to work.

James makes it super clear in James 2:14-26 that faith without action is as useful as a screen door on a submarine. It’s not enough to say you believe in God; your faith has to show up in how you live. Imagine seeing someone who’s cold and hungry, and instead of helping, you just say, “Stay warm and well-fed!” (James 2:16). Really? That’s not doing anyone any good! Faith that doesn’t move you to help others isn’t real faith — it’s like an empty promise.

James backs this up with some serious Old Testament heavyweights:  Abraham and Rahab. Abraham’s faith wasn’t just words — it showed when he was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac because God asked him to (James 2:21). Rahab? She risked her neck to hide the Israelite spies (James 2:25). These weren’t just thoughts or feelings; these were bold, risky actions that proved their faith was alive and kicking.

Some might say, "Hold on, doesn’t this contradict Paul? Didn’t he say we’re saved by faith, not works?" (Romans 3:28). Good question! Paul and James aren’t disagreeing — they’re talking about two sides of the same coin. Paul’s focused on how we’re saved — by faith in Jesus, no strings attached (Ephesians 2:8-9). James is talking about what happens after that moment. Once you’re saved, real faith leads to real action. Paul backs this up in Ephesians 2:10, saying we’re “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Faith saves us, but works show our faith is the real deal.

Think of it like this: if faith were a seed, planting it is the start, but watering it with action is what makes it grow. You can’t just talk about planting the seed forever; you need to actually do something with it.

Need more proof? Take a stroll through Hebrews 11, the “Hall of Faith,” where people like Noah and Moses are celebrated. Noah didn’t just believe it might rain; he built the ark! Moses didn’t just feel bad for the Israelites; he stood up and led them. Their faith had legs and hands and a backbone (Hebrews 11:7, 24-26). They didn’t just believe — they acted, even when it was hard.

James ends with a mic drop: “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). Just like a tree needs to bear fruit to prove it’s alive, true faith produces action. Our actions are the proof in the pudding, the visible sign that our faith isn’t just lip service.

And let’s not forget what Jesus said: “By their fruit, you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16). So the question is — what kind of fruit are you growing? Is your faith inspiring you to serve others, live with compassion, and follow God’s lead? Or is it just sitting there, collecting dust?

Faith is more than just a nice idea or a feeling in your heart. It’s meant to show up in the real world. So, let’s not just talk about faith—let’s live it. Let it be visible in what we do, how we love, and the choices we make. After all, that’s what real faith looks like. It’s faith in action.