So James likened the Word to a mirror. If I look into a mirror, but then choose to ignore my dirty reflection, the mirror has not benefited me. It is our spiritual mirror. These are the people who believe the Word as they hear it, but immediately, they go away and start observing situations, instead of holding on to what they heard (James 1:23-24 ESV). What good is a mirror if we don't do anything about what we see? According to James, there are two options: forgetful hearer or effectual doer; delusional or blessed. While I must honestly confess that I’ve embarrassed myself by getting food on my face (and clothes!) We need to hear God’s Word, listen to it, read it, study it, hear it preached and memorize it. Even when people tell you that you have a spot on your nose, the best way to confirm if they are right or wrong is to stand in front of a mirror and examine yourself. The same Word that reveals the sin in our life also provides the way for cleansing. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. Stay in it and be faithful to the book. A Mirror for Transformation. The Bible calls this meditation. If I hear God’s Word but then am too passive to obey it, I delude myself into thinking I’m following the Lord. However, just as a mirror’s reflection is not enough to get the peanut butter off of my face, exposing my heart to the truth of God’s Word is not enough for my heart to suddenly be conformed to Christ. This transformation we experience actually comes from the Lord Himself (who is) the Spirit. Our carnal natures want to be concealed because of the shame of sin but God’s Word brings light and truth. , Free PDF download Download September 2020 Rhapsody of Realities by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. The Lord's brother James said the Word of God is like a mirror. You probably took a shower, got dressed, brushed your teeth, and ran a comb through your hair. The Lord's brother James said the Word of God is like a mirror. He understood that everything in life, whether animate or inanimate, has some intelligence. Or we want to make sure we are appropriately groomed for the occasion at hand. Stay up to date with the latest news and announcements, Opening Hours: Monday: 12pm-6pm (counselling), Wednessday: 7pm - 9pm (virtual service), Sunday 10am - 1pm (Church service). If after we had opened our spiritual eyes of understanding, to see the uncleanliness in our lives; we are actually taking the necessary steps, in bringing our lives in line with God’s requirements. “For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was” (verse 24). God says a mirror reflects what we're like on the outside and God's Word reflects what we're like on the inside. In doing so, God’s Word is like a mirror, reflecting back to us the areas of our lives we are pleasing the Lord, and also specifics in which we need to repent and grow. After seeing God’s holiness and our shortcomings reflected in God’s Word, we need to respond. Glory to God. The Word of God is our spiritual mirror. God's Word: A Mirror of Identity by the Rev. We look in a mirror to assess the damage from the night before. In the mirror of God's Word, we can see where we need to change—and we allow God to re-align our hearts with His. There are two other references in the Bible to God’s Word as a mirror; and when you put all three together, you discover three ministries of the Word of God as a mirror. May your life increasingly prove that you are a doer of the Word. © Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef, Inc. | All rights reserved. You can see why you need to start confessing that you're healthy, rich, prosperous, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. DON’T HIDE YOURSELF IN THE CROWD; WE’RE A FAMILY. May Your Word continue to transform me as Your Spirit renews my mind each day. That means over and over and over again. But when we do, God is able to do His merciful, loving work of transformation in our hearts. 1. Required fields are marked *, © 2020 HATFIELD CHRISTIAN CHURCHJESUS CHRIST - HOPE FOR ALL. God's Word is like a mirror. reading this confirmed God’s assignment to me… God bless!!! That’s when I notice it-somehow, a big blob of peanut butter ended up on my chin instead of on my toast! Our carnal natures want to be concealed because of the shame of sin but God’s Word brings light and truth. It's not always a pretty picture; most of us don't want to confront our hypocrisy, our compromises, our complacency. This is a wonderful key to understanding the Word, which so often seems to contradict itself. The Word of God is like this truth-mirror that not only reveals the real person of the heart but points us to the truth of the God-image we are to emulate. Help me submit to Your will displayed in Scripture. Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.'. We use mirrors to evaluate ourselves. Nobody leaves their house everyday without looking at a mirror to make sure their appearance looks well and great. The first group are those who look at the mirror and immediately forget what they look like, as they go away. Everybody values a mirror, and every household owns one at least. If we content ourselves with merely hearing God’s Word, we are as foolish as the person who sees her dirty face in a mirror and then does nothing except turn away. 'Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. I'm like a tree planted by the riverside, always fruitful and productive and my life is so beautiful. However, just as a mirror’s reflection is not enough to get the peanut butter off of my face, exposing my heart to the truth of God’s Word is not enough for my heart to suddenly be conformed to Christ. What does a wise man or woman do with this mirror? So today, when you pick up your Bible, look in the mirror—spiritually speaking—and allow your Heavenly Father to show you how you can look more like His Son. It is the perfect standard by which we are to assess the status of our spiritual being. Then we do something about it. But that’s not enough. If someone listens to God's word but doesn't do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, New American Standard 1977 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; King James 2000 Bible The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth ~ we cannot hide from Him. James uses this scenario to describe a person who hears the Word of God but is not a doer of the same.