“Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).

When I was a younger man, I loved serving as a patrol chaplain in the police department of Binghamton, New York. I rode with various police officers throughout the night. My car was ready to respond anywhere in the city whenever a chaplain-related call came in. When we would be in between calls, my partner would often set up the radar equipment in our car. Folks knew the speed limit. Numerous signs warned our citizens of the speed limit. Did that mean that each took note and obeyed the law? Not exactly! In fact, we could tell exactly when people spotted us. No matter how fast they were driving, immediately their speed would drop as soon as they spotted the police cruiser. I’ve thought of that lots of times. As I read God’s Word, I need to be very careful to be not only a hearer but a doer as well. How about you?

For today: I will be wise to obey what the Lord says. May He give each of us grace to be doers and not just hearers.