James 1:23-24
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like
I love the way James writes, but I’m not sure he would make easy company. He is so incredibly blunt! Here he makes the obvious but powerful point that there would be no use in looking in a mirror if it didn’t cause you to do something as a result. If you learn that your hair looks a complete mess, action is required!
Reading the Bible is not like reading any other book. Other books might be entertaining, interesting or informative, but they will rarely change our lives. The Bible is one of the principal ways in which God has chosen to speak to us, so if we merely read the Bible as a beautiful work of literature, we have missed the point.
In Psalm 1:3, the writer speaks of the result of meditating regularly on God’s word. He says that those who do this are “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers”. By reflecting deeply on the Bible, we allow God’s wisdom to enter into our ways of thinking and acting. Every part of our lives cries out for God’s wisdom, whether we are looking at our employment, relationships, possessions, leisure or future. God has something to say to us and longs for us to listen.
Question
What actions are you going to take as a result of reading the Bible today?
Prayer
Lord, help me to listen more carefully to the Bible and to allow its words to shape my life. Amen

Released on 23 Sep 2026