Seeing things as they really are ∙

Seeing things as they really are ∙

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. – James 1:25

James 1:16-25

16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Seeing Things as They Really Are

What does it mean to see things as they really are? The answers are varied. In deriving a definition from real-world examples, Peter Drucker, a renowned and perceptive observer of American trends and culture, posed a poignant question.

What did Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, have in common with Jack Welch, the former President of General Electric? Drucker’s answer, “They share a rare commodity – intellectual integrity.” And what is intellectual integrity? Drucker explains, “I mean it as the ability to see the world as it is, not as you want it to be.”

His point is that Welch and Truman both tackled their jobs in the same spirit of objectivity. “They both understood executives are not their own masters. They are servants of the organization, whether elected or appointed, regardless of whether the organization is a government, a government agency, a business, a hospital, or a diocese. It’s their duty to subordinate their likes, wishes, preferences to the welfare of the institution” (Forbes).

Leadership Rooted in Reality

How can one demonstrate intellectual integrity as a leader of an organization or institution? A good leader determines the foremost need to be addressed. Meeting that need becomes their primary task and duty. The leader does not allow their ego to drive decision-making. Drucker comments, “Truman knew this—and acted on it; and that made him a great President.”

Both Churchill and Stalin were far more experienced than Truman in matters of international affairs. Truman knew he had much to learn and needed to do so at warp speed. He met daily with General George Marshall and Undersecretary of State Dean Acheson to improve his understanding. Truman recognized his limitations and had the personal character and courage to seek help when he needed it.

The Word as a Mirror

The Father has provided a way for us to see things as they really are. The Word of God discloses what each child of the King is really like on the inside. When we look into the Bible, it reveals our innermost being, heart, spirit, and soul. The Bible exposes our character, attitudes, and motivations. We are laid bare from the inside out.

James equates the Scriptures to a mirror. When we look in the mirror, we can see our exterior to determine how we look. If anything needs to be fixed, straightened out, or addressed, we can take the necessary actions.

“The main purpose for owning a mirror is to be able to see yourself and make yourself look as clean and neat as possible. As we look into the mirror of God’s Word, we see ourselves as we really are” (Wiersbe).

The Father’s Perspective

We have the opportunity to view ourselves through the Father’s perspective. Ultimately, His viewpoint is the only one that truly matters. When we are right before Him, we are right indeed.

None of us will ever wholly meet His standards in this life because of our fallen, imperfect nature. Yet, He has graciously provided us with the means to perceive reality as it truly is. Objective reality is rooted in His unwavering standards of righteousness, holiness, goodness, and truth.

REFLECT & PRAY

Just as a mirror reflects our physical image, the Bible reveals the truth of our innermost being.

Father, allow me to see reality as it truly is. Help me view the reflection of my life through Your Word and align myself with Your standards. May I be an active doer who responds to Your truth, rather than a passive hearer who forgets.

INSIGHT

Hearing vs. Doing

What separates a forgetful hearer from an effectual doer? The answer boils down to one word: action. A hearer listens but then forgets; a doer acts (Moo). A doer not only listens but applies what they’ve heard. According to James, an effectual doer is a true hearer because he hears and puts into practice the Word. Functionally, how does this occur?

Looking Intently into the Perfect Law

True hearing begins with careful attention to God’s Word. James uses the Greek word parakupto to describe this process. Parakupto means “to stoop and look intently,” much like John did when he stooped to peer inside Jesus’ empty tomb in John 20:5 (Burdick). This term refers to “an intense and deliberate focus.” It implies “a deep absorption and fervent desire to understand.”

James urges us in James 1:25: “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres—not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts—will be blessed in his doing.”

The “law of liberty” refers to the Word of God and its divine principles. It serves as a spiritual mirror for every child of the King. This law highlights the guidelines and standards the Father desires for us to live by. It offers a framework for joyful and purposeful obedience.

A New Way of Living

James introduces a revolutionary way of life by encouraging us to connect the perfect law of liberty with the power of the Holy Spirit. This combination transforms obedience from an obligation into a joy. The failures of the past no longer weigh us down but are instead empowered and encouraged by the Father. We experience something that is often totally new – joyful spiritual obedience. Doing the right thing is no longer a chore to be endured with drudgery. Instead, it becomes a source of pleasure and delight.

The Psalmist echoes this beautiful truth in Psalms 119:18: “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions.”

This new perspective on obedience shifts our hearts and minds, leading us into a state of joyful spiritual freedom.

Hearing Is Not Enough

Warren Wiersbe reminds us of a critical point: “It is not enough to hear the Word; we must do it. Many people have the mistaken idea that hearing a good sermon or attending a Bible study is what makes them grow and receive God’s blessing. It is not the hearing but the doing that brings the blessing. Too many Christians mark their Bibles, but their Bibles never mark them! If you think you are spiritual because you hear the Word, then you are only kidding yourself.”

Similarly, Charles Stanley observes that modern culture often labels individuals as “spiritual” simply because they show interest in spiritual matters. However, the biblical perspective is far more demanding. True spirituality reflects itself in obedience to God’s Word. Those who hear and obey His voice are the ones deemed spiritual in the Father’s eyes.

Final Thoughts

To be more than just hearers, we must look deeply into Scripture’s truths, allowing them to transform our hearts and guide our actions. Joyful obedience isn’t about checking off boxes but aligning our lives with God’s will, knowing that in doing so, we live in harmony with His perfect plan.

Look intently into the perfect law and become a doer, putting God’s truth to work in your life.

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© Dr. H 2025