Devotional for Wednesday, December 26, 2018
“God’s Word – Our Mirror”
by Dona Hake
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. There may also have been times in which the Word of the Lord has greeted your heart with an invitation to take a second glance for your soul may have need of extra attention. 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 things that we are unaware of. While this may be unpleasant to our souls, it is needful that we deal with this prompting of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we are aware of hindrances to our soul yet we become masters of covering up, and putting off dealing with it. As the scripture says…we would be…
“betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning
contrary to the Truth].”
“betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning
contrary to the Truth].”
We cannot afford to deceive ourselves and live contrary to God’s Word. Know that when the Lord brings something to our attention, He is also our provision of all the grace and help we need to change it. We must always keep in mind that 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 can end up being a hearer and not a doer of the Word of our Lord. It is the same as seeing ourselves in a mirror, and observing the reflection of our spirit and soul, and walking away, therefore forgetting the condition of our soul. My friend we must never walk away and forget what we saw in God’s mirror. Hearing the Word without obedience following will never help us change. 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 the Holy Spirit, our Helper for 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.