Walk the Talk: A Men's Bible Study in JamesSample

Walk the Line

Many men like spy stories and movies. Films with men on missions with gadgets, espionage, and action. We are built for it. Unfortunately, we are also built like those agents who often go rogue, follow their own mind instead of instructions, and then get into trouble.

There’s a scene in the film, Mission Impossible Fallout, where Tom Cruise’s character, Ethan Hunt, is chasing his enemy, August Walker, on foot. The thing is, Ethan doesn’t know where the guy is exactly and must rely on Benji (the tech guy) speaking into his ear as he tracks both Ethan and the villain’s whereabouts. As the bad guy is already ahead on the streets of London, Ethan takes to running and jumping from rooftop to rooftop, relying on the navigation of the man speaking directions into his ear. Maybe you can remember seeing it and being utterly entertained as well.

Likewise, we have the image of Christ to bear and the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to us. We are not merely agents who received a mission briefing and left the room to forget half the instructions as soon as we hit the ground running. No, we can constantly stay connected and in step with live instruction and navigation from our king. We are not to be like men looking into the mirror only to forget what we (should) look like. But we can constantly have Christ’s reflection upon us. We can constantly tap into the voice of the Holy Spirit to direct us at every turn. And unlike Benji, Jesus understands the rough terrain we are crossing for He has gone before us, and His Spirit is with us to foresee every dimension and detail.

We are called to walk the line with Jesus. But the only way to stay in line is to also stay online. If you don’t have Him in your ears and sights consistently, you won’t be able to have Jesus in your steps continuously…

James said as much at the start of today’s scripture, reminding us that there’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Many of us men like to fire away with our opinions, our plans, and our own knowledge. We don’t like listening too well or too often. Yet, we are supposed to listen twice and act once. First listen to the situation or the other person – for instance, your wife. Then listen to the Holy Spirit and apply God’s Word accordingly.

On the contrary, some of us like to hear, but not to act. This is also not the way to go, for we then become complacent men, always hearing God’s Word, confessing to have faith, but never putting words into deeds. Now we are not saved by our deeds, but our faith. However, as you’ll keep seeing in this series, James is known for challenging believers to put deed to word and show their faith in action as well.

There’s a difference between hearing and listening. And the difference is usually seen in the response to, or application of the message received. We can listen well and do what is necessary. Or we can hear, choose to either discard or react, and then see the bombs go off.

So, are you going to walk the line, like an agent with his earpiece in place on the chase? Or going to go offline, off the rails and bear the rogue consequence?

Reflect on the following…

1. What’s the difference between listening and doing, compared to hearing, and reacting?

2. How can you better apply today’s reading in your own life?

3. What do you specifically need prayer for today? Pray about it…