22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
    

22. But—obey the message; be doers of the Word, and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. The Amplified Bible.

We can hear the Word of God that’s given to us but if we don’t take heed and do what it says then it doesn’t do us any good.  And when we don’t do what the Bible says to do, there’s a reason for that—at least in our own minds.

As the Amplified Bible says we betray ourselves into deception by reasoning contrary to the truth.  The Word of God is The Truth.  Whether we know it or not, whether we believe it or not, whether we do it or not, and whether we like it or not, the Word of God is the ultimate Truth that governs this universe and beyond.

When we read something or hear something that the Bible says to do and we don’t do it, we justify to ourselves why we don’t have to do what the Bible says.  Some people say, "Well, that doesn’t apply to today."  Or, "That’s not really for my circumstance."  Or, "That was just for the apostles."  Or, "But this person really deserved it."  Etc.

If we don’t do what the Bible says we have deceived ourselves by reasoning contrary to the truth.  We need to be careful we don’t talk ourselves out of living according to the truth because it governs our life whether we know it or not!

Confession:

I will be a doer of the Word of God and not just a hearer.  I realize the Word of God is the ultimate Truth and I choose to live by it.