Take a Look in the Mirror

May 2

Read: James 1:22-25

Take a Look in the Mirror

We need to remember what we look like to God. In Christ, we have been made clean and new, spotless, our slates have been wiped clean. This is a gift from God through Christ. It is not just a matter of agreeing with this idea - we must be reminded that it TRULY COUNTS FOR US. These truths are true FOR US… applied to US… they make up who we are. When we look in God’s mirror, it reflects back upon us who we are in Christ… it reflects God’s grace and forgiveness… our “new self”… how God sees us. We need not be afraid to look in God’s mirror and see who we truly are.

James uses this imagery to describe how we are to live. Remembering what we look like in Christ is CRUCIAL for us to be effective, fruitful, and people of ACTION. It is easy to trust God’s goodness and work for OTHERS, but we need to believe about ourselves when we look in the mirror. If not- we will be ineffective and ‘hearers only”. Take a look at this passage:

“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.” (v.22-24)

The key to “doing” … to living out in real life… to experiencing what God is calling his people to….is remembering who you are! It is God’s grace that transforms us. (Titus 2) Remembering the forgiveness that has been extended to us leads us into “fruitful lives” in Christ. (2 Peter 1) It is not enough to just know the word of God… the book… we are called to know the author, JESUS. (John 5) And we must trust that this is truly applied to us… that it is who WE are. When we listen to the word of God and the Spirit of God tell us who we are in Christ, we are looking into God’s mirror and seeing our true self. Remembering our true self is what enables us… empowers us… leads us into ACTION. This is what transforms the people of God. If we forget who we are… if we forget what we look like when we look in the “mirror” - we become only “hearers” and NOT “doers”.

Verse 25 shows us the right way forward:

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty / freedom (this is Christ’s law), and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (v.25)

This is God’s promise: that we will be “blessed in our doing” when we remember the freedom we have in Christ. When we look upon Christ’s law - which is a law of love and freedom and grace - We remember who we are and we become not only “hearers of the word of God but doers also”. Brothers and sisters, do not look in the mirror and forget who you are! Do not be afraid to look in God’s mirror… he will show YOU what HE sees in you as his child. You may be surprised when you see what God sees. The enemy wants you to think of God as seeing you covered in your sin… as “wretched” and disgusting. This is NOT the case. He sees you the same way that he sees his son, Jesus. You have been gifted the righteousness of Christ. Remember who you are! This is what brings about life change. Love you guys.