Popping Pimples

A Series on the book of James
Listening and Doing
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
James 1:19-27 

[James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In some ways, it’s similar to Old Testament wisdom literature like Proverbs. It includes many practical applications to help a believer grow in their faith. In this series, we will look at the wisdom of James’ letter and how it applies to our lives.]

  

I have something to confess. When I was a teenager, one of the biggest worries that preoccupied my thoughts was my complexion. Figuratively speaking, I would spend hours in front of the mirror looking for pimples. Once spotted, I would immediately go into action and pop that sucker.

 

James wrote his letter to the “twelve tribes” of Israel who had been scattered throughout the Roman Empire. For many, this dispersion occurred over the centuries. But following Stephen’s martyrdom in the first century, a “great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem”.

 

Because of this, all except for the apostles, were driven from their homes. These were Jewish believers whose lives had been turned upside down. They were not only living under the oppressive rule of Rome, but also the murderous persecution of Paul.

 

Under these difficult circumstances, James knew that there was a temptation to lash out in anger at others. But he also understood that this would only make matters worse.

 

Therefore, he gave them three simple steps to follow.

 

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. NLT

 

“Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry”. It sounds so simple, and yet it isn’t. Think about drivers who cut you off in traffic; or anger directed at your spouse; or irritation when you’re bombarded with telemarketing calls and texts.

 

However, James also advised them to “humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts”. Which also sounds simple, but isn’t. Because in the heat of the moment, we tend to forget God’s word quickly. Here’s what James said about this.

 

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.    NLT

 

Popping pimples was an obsession for me. I couldn’t just look in the mirror and walk away without doing something. That’s what James was saying. He instructed them, to “look carefully”, or as the NASB puts it “look intently”, into the perfect law.

 

But his emphasis is on doing, not just looking.

 

²² But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].  AMP

 

We are to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. The goal is outward obedience and inward transformation; an authentic faith that proves itself in the crucible of life.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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