December 12, 2026 -Do The Word

JAMES 1:1-3:18

Chronological Bible Readings

^{James 1:22} But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

How difficult is it to read the bible regularly? When we do accomplish some regular bible reading we often feel like we have really accomplished something. But this scripture tells us that reading the word is only the first step in walking down a path of truth. To live in truth instead of our own foolishness we need to do what the word says. Of course, in order to do what the word says we have to know the word. Which means we have to read the word. But James tells us that reading it and knowing alone is not enough. If we read the bible every day and know everything that we possibly can about it, but we don't do it we are fooling ourselves. If we don't walk it and live it, then we are like the religious leaders of the time. They knew the word of God, but they deceived themselves into thinking that what they knew and did was right and valuable and made them a righteous person. Just like we can check of the box of reading the bible and answer every bible trivia question thrown at us. Instead we want to be like the children. They were taught the word of God and they lived it out because they wanted to please God and their parents. They did not have read the bible every day but they needed to receive what they did hear and learn and live it as truth out of love. That is how we are to come to the Lord. With a love for Him and desire to please Him so that when we do read His word we are inspired to live according to the that truth.

^{James 1:13} And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. ¹⁴ Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. ¹⁵ These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Of course we will not get it right every time. We will sin. We will forget. We will give into the temptations of our sinful desires. But because He loves us, He has responded in His love already. I have heard people talk about going through a difficult time and saying that God is testing them. I don't know that I believe that to be true. I don't think they are seeing those hard times as temptations so maybe that is why they think it is a test, but I think it is a temptation. The test is to see if we will rely on Him or try to do it on our own then it is just another temptation which we see here that God does not tempt us. And it is our sinful temptations that draw us from God's truth and hinder our ability to live according to God's word.

James 3:2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

We will never be perfect here on this earth, so it is a constant battle to do what Gods' word says. Just as not living according to the word are we fooling ourselves, believing that we are being successful at always living according to His word we are also fooling ourselves. We must use sobor judgement of our lives and the truth of our sinfulness should drive us back to God.

^{James 3:13} If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

And when we are driven back to Him we will humbly strive to live an honorable life according to the wisdom we are given in His word.