Hear It, Live It, Be Blessed: A Challenge from James

"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves."

- James 1:22 (NLT)

"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."

- James 1:25 (NLT)

"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world... Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor."

- James 4:7–10 (NLT)

This past Sunday morning was super refreshing as I got into my morning devotional and flipped through the book of James. It was the first time in a few weeks that I really focused on the lesson and thought deeply about my life. Like I mentioned in my last post, "28 Things I Learned Before Turning 29", I always make some time before my birthday to think about the amazing lessons life has thrown my way over the past year.

After reading a few chapters, I felt inspired to write about the journey of being in your late 20s and that subtle feeling of being lost when big life changes happen, all while tying it to some powerful verses in James.

Your late 20s can feel like both the most exciting and most overwhelming time in life. You're old enough to know who you want to become, but young enough to feel unsure how to actually get there. You’re building careers, relationships, financial goals, and maybe even stepping deeper into your faith journey.

But somewhere in the middle of all the busyness, James reminds us of something critical: it’s not enough to hear the truth. You have to live it.

That truth came to life in a new way for me when I watched the movie No Vacancy with my Bible study group this week.

The film follows a struggling reporter and a church that takes a radical step of obedience, opening their doors to the homeless in their community. It’s not a perfect church. They have limited resources and real fears. But they choose to obey God anyway, loving people others overlook and trusting him with the results. It’s exactly what James is talking about. They didn’t just talk about compassion. They acted on it.

James 1:22–25 gives a clear warning: If you only listen to God’s Word but don’t put it into practice, you are only fooling yourself. It’s like looking into a mirror, seeing a clear reflection of who you are, but walking away and forgetting it entirely.

And isn’t that so easy to do in this season of life?

You hear an inspiring message, read a powerful verse, have a deep conversation; and for a moment, everything feels clear.

You know you should forgive that friend.

You know you should steward your money wisely.

You know you should be pursuing purity, patience, or faithfulness.

But then Monday hits... Deadlines pile up.

Relationships get complicated.

Temptations feel stronger.

Doubts creep back in.

And if you're not intentional, you end up living a life that's disconnected from what you know is true... a life that forgets the reflection you once saw.

We treat the Word like a moment, not a mirror. But in No Vacancy, we see what happens when someone looks into the mirror of God's truth and decides to respond. The church in the film didn’t have everything figured out. But they didn’t wait for perfect conditions to obey. They let the Gospel inconvenience them, stretch them, and change them. And God moved powerfully.

James says that real blessing comes not from being exposed to the truth, but from continuing in it. From acting on it even when it’s hard, even when it’s inconvenient.

How This Looks in Everyday Life:

• Forgiveness: You might know you’re called to forgive, but it’s easy to hold onto resentment because it feels safer. Living the Word means choosing to forgive anyway, trusting God with your healing.

• Integrity: You know you're called to live with honesty, but when you’re exhausted or under pressure at work, bending the truth can seem easier. Living the Word means honoring truth even when no one is watching.

• Trusting God: You hear messages about trusting God's timing, but when relationships, careers, or dreams feel delayed, anxiety kicks in. Living the Word means refusing to take shortcuts and holding onto his promises, not your own timeline.

James 4:7–10: How to Stay Anchored

James doesn’t just call us to obedience; he tells us how to live it out practically:

• Humble yourselves before God: Surrender your plans, dreams, and timing. Trust that God’s way is better, even if it doesn’t immediately make sense.

• Resist the devil: You will face temptation. Every day. But resistance is possible, not because you're strong enough, but because God's Spirit empowers you.

• Come close to God: Prioritize his presence. Make space for prayer, scripture, worship, and community. He promises to draw near when we do.

• Wash your hands and purify your hearts: Be honest about your struggles. Let repentance be a regular rhythm, not a last resort.

• Humble yourselves before the Lord: Let go of pride. The pride that says “I’ll fix this myself” or “I know best.” Humility is the soil where God's grace grows deepest.

Your late 20s aren't just a "waiting room" for real life. They're the season where habits, character, and spiritual roots are formed. And James is challenging you: Don’t settle for just knowing the right things. Live them.

And No Vacancy shows us what’s possible when people stop waiting for perfect conditions and start walking in bold, messy obedience. The result? Lives transformed... theirs and others’.

Because when you do - when you hear and obey, when you draw near and submit - God promises blessing, freedom, and life that goes deeper than anything this world can offer.

You don’t have to be perfect. You don't have to do something big. You just have to be faithful.