Are you a doer?

In the fourth grade, I learned my schoolteacher had bicycled across the United States.

Ever since then, I have dreamed about doing the same thing someday.

In high school, I took a biking trip with a small group from St. Francis, Kansas, to Estes Park, Colorado, and back. 

I trained for this trip by riding ten miles every day for months, leading up to our departure.

My best day on the trip was the day we did a century ride. 

Naturally, the day after, I was exhausted. 

When I heard a companion from behind me say she wished our leader would let us stop and rest for a bit, that’s what I did. I stopped and got off my bike with tears of exhaustion streaming down my face. 

Thankfully, there was a park ranger with a pickup that our leader talked into taking our four-person group up the mountain to our campsite for that night.

How did James 1:19–27 remind me of this experience?

Hearing and Doing the Word
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 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.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. [1]

As I read this passage, the verse that prompted my biking memory was verse twenty-two.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.[2]

Before I sat down to work on this post, I spent a brief time planning my 2023 exercise goals. 

Over the years, I have not been consistent in my pursuit of physical fitness. Some seasons I have been overzealous, resulting in injuries. In other seasons, I chose other activities at the expense of even basic physical fitness maintenance.

So, as I planned my exercise goals for 2023, I sought to guard against my tendency towards going either “all in” or “all out” to find a “wise medium” to rebuild my fitness at a sustainable pace.

Although this verse reminded me of when I was in much better shape than I am now and encourages me to not just “plan” my goals, but “follow through” on them as I did for my high school biking trip, physical fitness is not what James is writing about.

James is writing about spiritual fitness.

Take a moment to describe what being spiritually fit means to you. 

Now consider verses 19-20 of this passage.

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.[3]

What elements of spiritual fitness do you find in verse nineteen?

How can being quick to hear and slow to speak help us be slow toward anger?

What is the risk when we allow ourselves to be quick to anger?

Compare the following verses.

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. [4]

15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience[5]

21 But [Christ] answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” [6]

How do these three verses support each other and instruct one toward spiritual fitness?

Review verses 22-25.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 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. [7]

Describe the difference between a hearer of the word and a doer of the word in your own words.

Compare the following verses.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. [8]

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” [9]

Why should we be careful with our words?

Where in your spiritual life are you a hearer or talker instead of a doer?

What steps do you need to take today to enhance your spiritual fitness?

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. [10]

Just as I heard about an amazing bike trip in fourth grade and then later prepared for and enjoyed a smaller bike trip of my own in high school, I need to make sure that my spiritual fitness training is not just one of hearing and talking but of doing.

Some ways I train for spiritual fitness include daily scripture reading, studying and writing this blog, praying for others as well as myself, driveway firepit nights for friends and neighbors fellowship building, smiling and having a good sense of humor, tithing, etc.

How are you training for spiritual fitness in 2023?

Keep the conversation going by sharing in the comments section.

Blessings,

Barbara Lynn


[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:19–27.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:22.

[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:19–20.

[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:21.

[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 8:15.

[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 8:21.

[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:22–25.

[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:26–27.

[9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 12:36–37.

[10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ti 4:6–10.

3 Replies to “Are you a doer?”

  1. Some of the same strategies we use to achieve physical fitness apply to achieving spiritual fitness–commitment, dedication, self-discipline, and consistency. We use those actions to study God’s word, establish Bible study and devotional time, prayer and meditation time, and actively worship and praise. We use the same actions to commit to physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices, thus we honor God with our bodies and can better serve Him.

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