James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)
MIRROR #1. OUR CULTURE
A PIECE OF ALUMINUM FOIL
This mirror is like the mirror of our culture and the world we live in..
This world doesn’t really have a clear view of right and wrong. It’s blurry.
The mirror of situational ethics and the political climate.
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” – Judges 21:25 (ESV)
MIRROR #2. LABELS AND FRIENDS
“they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools” – 2 Corinthians 10:2 (amp)
MIRROR #3. BROKEN RELIGION AND POLITICS
Religion makes a lot of good claims, and does contain some bits and pieces of truth.
HOWEVER,, it is cracked and broken and incapable of revealing the full truth.
MIRROR #4. – GOD’S WORD
Vs. 23-24-25 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)
Joshua 1:7,8
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
WHEN WE LOOK INTO THE MIRROR OF GOD’S WORD, WHAT DO WE SEE?
1. We see our flaws. We see that we are but dust
2. We also see that God loves us. and his Character in us
3. We see that by believing in Jesus Christ, the change process is ongoing.
THE BIBLE IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER MIRROR, because it can actually change us! II Corinthians 3:18
GOD’S MIRROR CAN MAKE US BEAUTIFUL on the inside!
“But we all with a face having been unveiled, while reflecting the glory of the Lord as a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just-as from the Lord’ the Spirit.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18 (DLNT)
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