Title: Seeing with Blind Eyes/ Topic: Self-Deception

Today's Reading: James 1; James 2; James 3; James 4; James 5

Scripture: James 1:22
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Observation: If we just listen to the Word of God without acting on what it says we are like a blind person who thinks he sees clearly; we are deceived. I think this happens because listening to the Word gives us the feeling that we know God and have the “truth” of correct doctrine. It's the same reason the Pharisees believed they were spiritually superior while completely missing the Messiah that was God is the flesh. We have to be obedient, doers of the Word , in order to avoid deceiving ourselves with a false sense of spirituality.

Application: If my life is not impacted by the Word so that it changes my attitudes, thoughts and behavior then Jesus is not my Lord. The very word Lord implies he calls all the shots. I conform t him, not the other way round. That means I forgive everyone every time they offend me. It means I love my enemies and do good to those who persecute me. It means I submit to the human authority figures that Gd has placed in my life. It means, in short, that I get rid of all self-centeredness and become God-centered.

Prayer: Father, show me my own heart. I want my life to conform to yours. Not my will but thine be done. May this always be my prayer.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.