by Dona Hake
Mirrors reflect exactly what we look like and they never lie. They are a tool that we definitely need to groom ourselves each day, and I can not imagine life without them! It is important that we have an acceptable appearance so we need to use them to help us. What if you walked up to a mirror in a department store after you walked in from a very windy day. You glance at the mirror and see that your hair is a mess. I would hope you do your best to fix it a bit but if you did not care, you simply walk away and do nothing. I will use this analogy as we ponder God’s Word being the most blessed mirror we possess as believers. Today I want to share a scripture in which James speaks about our attention to the Word in our life being likened to looking into a mirror.
James 1:22-25 (Amplified)
“But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;
For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then
goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.
But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law]
of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking
into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an
active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing
(his life of obedience).”
There may have been a time that you have heard the Word of God and your heart was encouraged and lifted up. Although there may be times the Word of the Lord will greet our hearts with an invitation to take a second glance for our soul may be a mess. You see, as we hear the living Word of God, many times the Holy Spirit will speak to us in a more challenging way and reveal the true condition of our hearts. As He does this He will bring instruction to help us make the necessary change. But know this…it is our choice to let Him change us into His image. If we do not act on the challenge of God’s Word, we may be tempted to back burner the living Word of God and thus go unchanged in that area. It is the same as seeing ourselves in a mirror. The reflections of our spirit and soul are reflecting where they are, and we walk dare not walk away and act as if we did not see it. Hearing the Word without obedience following will never change us. Action by faith in Him must follow!
As we look into the glorious mirror of the living Word of God and it reveals what we need let us ask God to help us receive the wisdom, understanding and direction to deal with the change that our hearts need. He who has shown this great light of His Word will be faithful to accomplish the change we need and we will be blessed and changed into His image as we obey Him.