The Mirror Image
Today’s Verse:
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. ~James 1:25
One of the most important articles we cannot do without is a mirror. Long before the mirror was invented, people would look at a clear body of water to see their faces. A mirror helps us to determine how we look and the image we are giving to people about our face. James uses the metaphor of a mirror to describe the ministry of God’s Word in our life. This morning, let us see the importance of the mirror image.
We see the reflection.
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.” Notice the idea of a mirror is found in the phrase, “A man beholding his natural face in a glass.” When we look into a mirror, we see a reflection of how we look at that moment. When we read God’s Word, it tells us at that moment what we look like. It does not hide the fact of what is going on inside of us. God’s Word shows us if we are angry, bitter, happy, holy, spiritual, sad, or unspiritual. It reflects exactly what we are at the moment we look into it.
We see the refusal.
“For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” Sadly, we might not like what we see when we look at a mirror. There are times when after looking at God’s Word, we just go on and purposely forget what we saw. We refuse to accept the bare truth the Word of God reveals about us. We don’t want our sin called out. We don’t want our attitude to be exposed. We don’t want to obey a specific command. When Jonah received the call to Nineveh, he refused it and went his way to Tarshish. We forget because we choose to forget. What do you see this morning about yourself that you would just like to forget about?
We see the responsibility.
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work.” James declares three things about God’s Word in James 1. He calls it the Word of truth. He calls it a glass or mirror. He calls it the perfect law of liberty. David said the Word of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. God’s Word is the perfect law of liberty. God’s Word sets us free! It frees us from temptation that can result in sin. It relieves us from the burden of the trials we go through. It does not bring us into bondage, but rather sets us free. So, when we look into God’s Word as the perfect law of liberty, our responsibility is to continue or be obedient to it. Continuing has the idea of abiding, walking with, and carrying out what we read and hear. Read God’s Word always with the idea as to what God wants you to do. We are never living more in liberty than when we live in obedience to the Word of God.
We see the reward.
“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” Notice this man is blessed in his deed. Obedience results in answered prayers. It results in God’s blessings in our efforts. It results in souls being saved. It results in spiritual growth. It results in happy relationships. This man is blessed in his deed!
A mirror is an important article. It can help us correct something that does not look right about us. It can keep us from a public embarrassment. Trust and obey God’s Word to show you what is right and to obey it.
Have a reflective God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Haggai 1-2