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Looking In God’s Mirror

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Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags:

When we wake up in the morning what do we do? Do we simply get out of bed, put on our suit, grab our car keys, and make our commute to work? Do we walk into the office a disheveled mess, looking as if we had just crawled out of bed – our hair wild, tie crooked, one blue, and one brown sock, our face in dire need of a shave? Perhaps we know someone who does this, but most of us get up in the morning and spend a little time in front of the mirror.

As men, we spend time with a razor, trimming away our growth of beard, and combing our hair. The ladies take time to primp and put on make-up. We give attention to certain details to make us look “professional,” or at least “presentable” to the outside world. We do these things, because most of us look a mess in the mornings.

In making application of the above in a spiritual sense, what do we do after we hear a sermon? Do we shake the preacher’s hand and say “good lesson” – walk to our car, make the trip home, and forget about everything we’ve heard, or do we hear the call to action presented in the sermon? Do we examine ourselves against what has been taught from God’s Word (2 Corinthians 13:5), or do we simply walk away with a “warm fuzzy feeling” that we’ve spent a few moments of our precious time listening to God’s word presented, then give it no more thought?

This writer fears that far too many Christians give little heed to what is presented in God’s word. They hear the sermon, leave the building, and forget everything that was taught, not making any application to their lives.

James tells us:

“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” (James 1:22-24 ESV).

The picture here is of one who sees that he needs to make changes in his appearance, spiritually speaking. He has noticed his disheveled look, and realizes he needs to do something about it. But as soon as he turns away from the mirror, he forgets what he needed to do to make himself appear presentable before God.

On the day of judgment, man is going to answer for how he made application of the “mirror” of God’s Word (Matthew 7:21; John 12:48). While the teacher has a grave responsibility in teaching God’s Word (James 3:1), the hearer also has a responsibility to deal with what he hears, and make proper spiritual application of it in his life (Mark 4:21-25).

James says:

“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” (James 1:25 ESV).

One who “continues” in the word, (James 1:25) does not get a “warm fuzzy feeling” from sitting through the sermon, but rather is convinced, convicted, and makes the necessary changes in his life.

Brethren, let’s resolve to spend more time looking in God’s mirror!

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