James 1:22-27

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (NIV)

When you were little and got a gift, what did your parents usually have to remind you to do? Wasn't it to say "thank you"? James has just reminded his readers that God's word is able to save our souls. What can we do in response to this? We can say "thank you" with our lips, with our hearts, and with our lives.  "Do what it says," James urges. What a great illustration he gives us: the forgetful man and the mirror! James tells his readers that when they read God's law they should do what it says... does he contradict Paul, who told us we no longer need to obey God's law?

Now we need to remember the contexts of Galatians and of James. Paul is writing to people who were new converts, and were being forced into submitting to circumcision. They had been told that they had to obey the Old Testament laws in order to be saved. That was a lie.

James is writing to people who are mature believers for whom obedience to the law wasn't the main issue. He is not saying they need to obey the law to be saved. On the contrary, he is saying-- and this is vital--that since they have been saved, they can obey the law and be blessed in doing so. The law tells us about God's will for his people before Christ came. The law tells us how we can love God (by having no other gods, and so forth) and how we can love other people (by honoring our parents, not murdering, and so forth). The law also tells us a variety of ways in which to make sacrifices, how to react to mildew and various skin diseases, and more. But we may even find that we have kept an Old Testament law by accident, without trying (many people circumcise their male children even today for reasons apart from obedience to the law).

But before you start checking for mold on your doorposts or go checking out your pantry for kosher food, remember that none of these things are required for eternal life. If we insist on them, we reject Christ. If we joyfully abide by them in thanks for what Jesus has done for us, then we will be blessed. We will also be blessed if we give thanks to God in other ways. James evven names a few: Look after widows and orphans, and keep yourself from being polluted by the world.

There's a lot here to take to heart. Be faithful to Jesus, and know that in him, your sins are forgiven.