Weekly Devotional: Hearer vs. Doer

True faith means living out God’s Word, not just hearing it. James 1:22 urges believers to be doers — letting Scripture shape actions, identity and daily life.

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Read time 3 minutes

Isabel Maguire

Published on May 16, 2025

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

James 1:22ESV

Many people listen to sermons, read devotionals or regularly attend church. It is important to keep learning about God and hearing messages from the Bible, but it’s what we do after that matters. James is saying that it’s not enough to only hear the Word, we need to be living it out in our daily lives.

The Difference Between a Doer and a Hearer

Being a doer means to be living out everything you hear. It means intentionally growing through God’s Word. A hearer is the opposite. A hearer only listens to God’s Word and is affected by it but does nothing. They may live according to worldly values during the week, then come to church on Sunday seeking repentance. Then, they do it all over again without ever living out what they are learning. James tells us that “Faith without works is dead”, which means you can’t have one without the other (James 2:17 ESV). Faith doesn’t work without both hearing and doing.

Think about it: If we only listen to the word but don’t pair it with action, how are we honoring and serving God? Use your job as an example. Do you just show up and watch the others work or do you actually work yourself? Your faith is the same. Don’t only hear God’s words — live them out. Show those around you the change that faith can really bring.

Living What You Hear

To live out what you hear is not just to follow a set of rules, it means to let God’s Word take root so deeply in your heart that it changes your perceptions of the world and how you react to the things and people around you.

Being a doer is allowing scripture to shape you into the best person you can be, a true follower of God. It shapes your identity as well as behavior. I know from personal experience that when we choose to live how God wants us to by spending more time with God and truly letting Him guide every area of our lives, we become the happiest, best version of ourselves, no matter what we are dealing with.

It is important to remember that living the word is not an occasional act, it’s a continual transformation. It’s not only hearing “love your enemies” but living as someone who doesn’t see them as enemies anymore but as people who need the love of God. God never intended for us to admire His word from a distance. He meant for it to live inside of us, shaping us each day as we live it out.

Application

So, how do we really live out the word in our daily lives?

Start small. Pick one verse that has recently stood out to you and write it down. Carry that verse with you and keep an eye out for how you can live it each day. Just one small action can make a huge difference.

For example, let's say you choose, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,” (Ephesians 4:32 ESV). Ask yourself, who can I show unexpected kindness to today?

Or maybe you select, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves,” (Philippians 2:3 ESV). Look for a chance to put someone else’s needs before your own.

It doesn’t have to be anything big. One small act of God’s Word is better than a hundred moments of only hearing it.

Being Doers of the Word at GCU

It’s easy to fall into a pattern of only hearing the word while at college, but we do things differently at GCU. We offer many opportunities to connect with a community to help keep you accountable for how you follow Jesus. One of those opportunities is joining a Life Group. Life Groups are held throughout the week in each residence hall and can give you the chance to connect with those around you.

Shine God's Light as a Doer

Join a life group at GCU to experience what it's like to be a doer of the word.

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Written By

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Isabel Maguire

Professional Writing Student,

GCU

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Approved and verified accurate by the local outreach coordinator of the Office of Spiritual Life on April 14, 2025

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.