December 18

Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. - James 1:22.

TRUE religion does not consist in mere theory. It is more than a notion of things-something is known and felt. There is such a thing as real experience in divine things. “He that believeth hath the witness in himself,” and this is what we are to seek after, to taste and see that the Lord is good. We are told that the publican went down to his house “justified,” he carried away the blessing itself.

How different is this from many who hear the gospel, who, after hearing a discourse, carry away the doctrine, but are regardless of the practice; they are hearers of the word, and not doers of it. These are self-deceivers. But this is the grand thing, to partake of the blessing sent, to know that we are pardoned through the blood of the cross, and to receive the gospel, not in word only, but in power and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance. This is the proof that we have not received it in vain: if it teaches us to “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the world;” if it enables us to say, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

What opportunities of hearing the word have some enjoyed. But, alas! while they hear the gospel constantly, they walk according to the course of this world. Some attend the house of God and places of dissipation, endeavouring to serve God and mammon; wearing the form of godliness, but denying the power of it. In all ages, God’s servants have been compelled to exclaim, “Who hath believed our report?”

Four kinds of soil received the same seed in the same season from the same hand, and what is the result? Only one of the four yields anything to the purpose, and if an appeal is made to the lives, and tempers, and conversation of those who hear the word, and who hear the word of the gospel too, what reason have we to hope that one in four of those who hear the gospel believe? -that one in four of the large numbers of hearers have received the grace of God to the salvation of their souls- are doers of the word and not hearers only? Alas, how awful the conclusion; they are “deceiving their own selves.”