Looking At Ourselves in the Mirror of the Word

I love the Book of James because it reminds me of the need to self-examine myself in relationship to how I represent Christ to the world. The Bible is filled with exhortations to examine ourselves, yet if we’re honest we probably examine others more often than we look at self. It is easy to see other people and what they are doing because they are constantly out there right if front of us. Properly executed we are commanded to help each other to become better Christians and we are not to turn a blind eye to sin. But Jesus was clear in Matthew 7:3-5 that before we look at others we must get the log out of our own eye so we can see clearly the speck in our brother’s. James explains to us how we can do this.

James 1:22-25
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

The Bible is our mirror. But we cannot just glance into it. If do not look deeply into it and find the faults we bear then we cannot make the necessary corrections. In my reading the morning I was shown three responsibilities we all have when dealing with God’s Word so that our walk with Jesus remains on His path, not ours.

First of all we must receive the Word. Jesus instructs in Mark 4:24 to pay attention to what we hear and in Luke 8:18 to pay attention to how we hear.

Mark 4:24
And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.

Luke 8:18
Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

Then Jesus says something very important.

Matthew 13:13
This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

What is the lesson in that scripture for us? When we read God’s Word we must dig into it and meditate on it. Simply opening up your Bible and reading some words will not change you. We must dive into it going deeper to find the best pearls it has for us. Even listening to your pastor’s sermon on Sunday is not enough. Ponder and mediate on God’s Word however it was presented to you. My family goes to lunch right after church and we often discuss what was said and how it applies. Jesus spoke in parables because He knew those who truly desired His truth would give it the effort to grasp what it meant. It made them think.

Next we must practice the Word.

James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

That one seems pretty simple and clear. Reading God’s Word is only profitable if we do what it says. And this is where we must use it as our mirror so it can reveal our sinful nature. We must never think we have arrived and we are as we should be. The command from Jesus is this, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). Every night I look in a mirror and reflect on my day. I have yet to see a reflection in that mirror that looks just like Jesus. We all have much work to do.

James 1:23-25
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

The blessing comes in the work of becoming like Jesus. In order to do this we must look at the full counsel of scripture and look at it as a mirror of our self.

Finally we must share the Word. But when we share it we must mot only speak it and put it on Facebook, we must share it in our deeds.

James 1:26-27
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

There are a lot of classes and books on how to witness. The truth is that the best witness to the world is our lives and how we live them out. Sharing Christ is a huge responsibility. Before we go out into the world each day we ought to look into the mirror. God’s Word is that mirror.

God bless.