Forgiveness • Devotion 6: Doers vs. Hearers
Pastor John Carter
As we conclude our week on forgiveness, I am reminded of the passage in James that deals with those who are “hearers only” versus those who live it out. Forgiveness is a hard subject to truly live out. Hurt, pain, betrayal, neglect, abuse, suffering, and sin are what we are talking about forgiving. I have said this before, sin is ugly! Forgiving sin against us is a very hard thing to do. This week has been a serious challenge for me as I have been writing these devotions. Forgiveness is so hard because we feel the wounds and scars. Sometimes, we are so blinded by the scar and wounds we forget that hanging onto vengeance equally produces scars and wounds in ourselves.
James 1:19-22 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
I love the book of James! It is just so practical in so many ways. My initial response to the wrong done to me is retaliation and anger. I have more of the “fight” response than I do of the “flight” response. I do not say this as a good thing. I have, in many cases, done more damage than good because of my fight response. In fact, James is very clear that “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” I would definitely second that sentiment in my own life. This week we have looked at a lot of passages that teach us the different aspects of forgiveness and repentance. The fundamental question is will you be a “doer” or will you be just a “hearer”? I am sure if you have been around church any number of times, you have heard that holding onto bitterness will do more damage than good to you. James teaches us this in the form of deceiving ourselves. He says to not deceive yourself by just hearing the Word of God. Understanding a concept is different than living it out. Today’s devotion is going to be pretty straightforward. Are we going to live out the things the Holy Spirit has pointed out to us? Will we continue to deceive ourselves?
Have you ever asked yourself, “What does it mean to be a ‘doer’ of the Word?” James continues a little farther down and tells us in James 1:25,“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
The doer acts. It is very practical and very precise! It leaves very little room to navigate away from it. James points to this amazing “law of liberty”that we receive in the Living Word, the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the One who took on all our sins as a perfect and sinless man. He is truly the One who by all rights could hold a grudge, rightfully condemn, and have every right to be angry. James points us to know Him first. If you are struggling with this week’s topic of forgiveness, can I encourage you to rest in the person of Jesus? Ask Him to help you, to walk with you as you try to live out God’s instructions and commandments in your life. James does not leave us without hope of blessing. The one who chooses to act, the doer of the Word of God, is affirmed by James that there is a blessing in it. This blessing may look different for each person. In regards to forgiveness, the blessing may mean healing from a wound you have had for decades. Maybe the hurt you have been carrying and festering will start healing. Maybe it will be a genuine and powerful reconciliation. Maybe it will be knowing you are forgiven, not only by God, but by the persons you have wronged. I do not know how walking through repentance and forgiveness will bless you. What I do know is, if you choose to not act on it, it will manifest itself.
I am not a big fan of writing out my prayers to God, but as I am writing this devotion I feel God leading me to do this. I feel that this may be something useful or encouraging to you, the reader. Please take time to join me in prayer as we conclude this devotion, earnestly seek after God, and live out what He has asked us to do.
Dear Father in Heaven,
Thank you for loving me! Thank you for the amazing forgiveness you offer to me! God, I know it is not easy for you to keep hearing me make mistakes. You desire for me to be an example of your love and forgiveness to others. It is really hard sometimes to do that. I cannot help but feel the pain and see the damage that has been done to me. I feel often very selfish that I have not even considered the pain and damage done to you. Lord, please forgive me for this. I desire to walk after you and your righteousness. Please help me to do the things you have commanded me to do. Help me be a doer, so that through me, others will taste your goodness and love. Jesus, thank you for carrying my sins to the cross. I know your love for me is real. As I do my best to walk through forgiving others, Jesus, please remind me over and over again how much you have forgiven me. I love you!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.