Good morning. It’s Friday, January 23rd, National Pie Day.

Yesterday we got the date wrong, oops! Shout out to everyone that noticed it.

We’re just trying to keep you on your toes!

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— James 1:22

Today we’re looking at one of the most underrated verses in the Bible, James 1:22, which says,

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

Before we talk about what it means, we need to know who wrote it.

It was written by James, the brother of Jesus.

James was talking to early Jewish Christians who already knew God’s Word. They showed up, listened, and agreed with what they heard, but often went right back to life as usual. It’s like paying for a gym membership but never actually working out.

When James says “don’t just listen,” he’s pointing out how easy it is to confuse showing up with making progress. Sitting in the gym doesn’t make you stronger. In the same way, hearing God’s Word can feel productive without actually changing anything.

James isn’t asking for perfect form. Just like the gym, growth doesn’t come from knowing what to do. It comes from actually doing it, even when it’s imperfect.

Now let’s look at the verses before and after to add some context.

James 1:21 says, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

Before James tells believers to do the Word, he reminds them how to receive it. God’s Word isn’t meant to be resisted or treated casually. It’s meant to be accepted with humility so it can actually take root and change us.

James 1:23 says, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror.”

James is saying that hearing God’s Word without acting on it is pointless. Just like a mirror shows you what’s real, Scripture reveals truth about us, but if we walk away without responding, nothing actually changes.

So what does the rest of the Bible say about this verse?

Over and over, Scripture makes the same point. Jesus says the wise person is the one who hears His words and puts them into practice. Faith isn’t just something we believe, it’s something we live out.

At the end of the day, James compares God’s Word to a mirror, which raises an honest question. When we look into it, do we walk away the same, or do we let what we see change us?

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: God, Your Word is true.

Confession: I often hear it without doing it.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for Your patience and grace.

Supplication: Help me live it out today.

In Jesus name, Amen

“We Still Believe” by KB & Ryan Ofei

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God