But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

kit and stacked paper: The Journey by Optic Illusions

You might enjoy reading my devotional, "Beautiful." You can view and/or download it in magazine style pdf (48 mb) here, or text w/highlighting format pdf (.5 mb) here. All of my other devotionals are also freely available in pdf format if you click on the link at the top of the right column.
context:

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:12-27

related:

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:45-49

Please refer to my previous articles, such as In Defense of Paul or Treasuries of Wisdom and Knowledge, for more about what words of Jesus we are to obey. (These can be downloaded as pdfs via the link at the top right column of this blog, but it's also very handy to have the Scripture references pop up when hovering over them online. If they don't pop up for you, try refreshing the page once or twice - that usually does the trick.) The road is narrow, which leaves no room for errors like grace as a license to sin on one side, law-keeping on the other, or universalism, which "widens the path" (or makes more "paths") by teaching that everyone goes to heaven. Everyone is invited, but each must accept the free gift or it will not benefit them any more than gifts here on earth would if we refuse them, throw them out after receiving them, or return them to the giver. God wants ALL to be saved, and He has provided ONE way, Jesus. (John 14:6, 1John 5:11, 1Tim. 2:1-4, Eph. 2:8-10)