在我的書桌上有一個備忘板，釘在上面的是一張清單：「有益健康的十個習慣」。那是我多年前從營養學雜誌上剪下來的。最近我驚訝地發現，即使我每天都看到這份清單，但我只記得其中四項。這份清單已成為我日常環境中很熟悉的一部分，以致我總是一瞥而過，卻沒有真的看到內容，更不用說照著指示去做。

雅各提到許多信徒對待聖經，也有類似的態度。他說：「聽道而不行道的，就像人對著鏡子看自己本來的面目，看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何」（雅各書1章23-24節）。許多跟隨基督的人雖知道聖經的教導，但可能只停留在「單單聽道」（22節），對上帝話語的順服也僅止於此。其實我們這樣是自我欺騙，沒有真正認清聖經的能力和權柄，也沒有看見聖經是能使我們「自由的全備的律法」（25節，新譯本）。

雅各勉勵我們要作「行道的人」（22節，同上）。一個行道的人會持續「行道」（22節），會「詳細察看」聖經並且「時常如此」（25節）。當然，順從上帝不應該只限於我們所做的事，而應該是我們生命的自然流露。讓我們靠著上帝的能力，在這世界活出祂的話語。

On my desk is a memo board of reminders. Pinned on it is a list, “10 Habits for Great Health,” that I cut out of a nutrition magazine years ago. Recently, I was stunned that even though I see this list every day, I could only remember four items. The list was such a familiar part of my daily surroundings that I’d glance at it without really seeing it or following what it said.

James describes something similar in the attitude of many believers toward the Scriptures: “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and . . . goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:23-24). Many followers of Christ are aware of what the Bible says. However, we may “merely listen to the word” (v. 22), and the extent to which we submit to it ends there. In this way, we deceive ourselves about the power and authority of Scripture, failing to see it as providing the “perfect law that gives [us] freedom” (v. 25).

James tells us to be “doers of the word” (v. 22 nasb). A “doer” looks “intently into” Scripture and “[continues] in it” (v. 25), consistently doing “what it says” (v. 22). Obeying God should be not just something we do, but something that flows from who we are. By His strength, we can live out His Word in our world.