Receiving the Truth of the Word
God gave us 2 ears and only 1 mouth! We should hear the Word and pursue its truth to know God’s will and to know God’s Word better. We should be swift in doing so. “I understand I am here to speak and you are here to listen. Let’s hope we both finish at the same time.” Hearing the Word develops knowledge of the Word. We should be cautious speaking this knowledge…i.e. teaching, preaching, etc.
Reacting to the Truth of the Word
James says professing believers are to be “doers.” He didn’t just speak of certain actions—doing this or doing that. No, doers all around. Also, they weren’t solely hearers. It is not the hearing, but the doing that brings the blessing. Professing Christians who are content with only hearing the Word have made a spiritual miscalculation.
Hearers only see themselves while hearing. Unless they act promptly after they hear the Word, they forget the changes and improvements they need to make. In both the Old and New Testaments, God’s revealed, inerrant, sufficient, and comprehensive Word is called “law.” The presence of His grace does not mean there is no moral law to obey. We are enabled by the Spirit to keep this law. We are freed from sin’s bondage and enabled to obey God.