Forgetting What Manner He Was James 1:24

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, told the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only”. He referenced the “hearing” person to “a man beholding his natural face in a glass”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-four of his letter, James continued his description of this deceived man where we read:

For he beholds himself, and goes his way,

and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.

The verse begins, “For he beholds himself, and goes his way,...” James began with the word, “For” which means “as, because, even, indeed, no doubt and seeing then” “he beholds” or “perceives, remarks, observes, understands and fixes his eyes and mind upon” “himself” which refers to “the person looking into the mirror”, “and goes his way” which means “departs”. James mentioned the person who looks at themselves in a mirror and then leaves his reflection in that looking glass.

The verse goes on to say, “...and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.” James continued, “and straightway” or “immediately and forthwith” “forgets” which means “neglects and no longer cares for” “what manner of man” which means “what sort and quality” “he was” or “had been when he stood in front of the mirror”. After the person looks at themselves in the mirror, they forget and neglect the person they saw reflected there.

When we consider these words of James, we understand how people can look at themselves and totally forget what they discovered after that examination. It is like the wind-blown person whose every hair was in place before the drafty onslaught who only discovers later they have a disheveled appearance. Those who look into the word of God, hear it and do it continually are less likely to forget who they really are. Those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ by way of His Holy Spirit are constantly reminded of God's word. This keeps them in constant check with their real manner of living and produces humility that beckons constantly for the grace of God.

Next time James shares how his readers are to be “blessed in” their “deeds”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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