Influenced by the Word

If I stand long enough in the rain, my skin will wrinkle, my body temperature will get lower, and if I was 20 again, my hair would get annoyingly curly.

If I stand long enough in the sun, my body temperature will increase, my skin will get sweaty, turn red as it burns, and after enough radiation, may become cancerous.

If I stand long enough in the mirror of words spoken by my God, I should be changed. It is possible, though, that only my thoughts will change, but not my behavior. In that case, it would be as though I stood in front of a mirror, saw dirt smudged on my face, but forgot about it by the time I could wipe it off. The experience was informational, but not transformational.

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
(Romans 12:1-2 HCSB ©®)

My dearly loved brothers, understand this: everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror; for he looks at himself, goes away, and right away forgets what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts—this person will be blessed in what he does.
(James 1:19-25 HCSB ©®)