james says we not only need to receive the word of GOD, but reflect on the word of GOD.
james 1.23-24 (niv), anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
james uses an illustration here. he says, GOD’s word is like a mirror. as you know the purpose of a mirror is to evaluate us. we use them to evaluate ourselves. we look in a mirror to assess the damage from the night before. then we do something about it. what good is a mirror if we don’t do anything about what we see? GOD says a mirror reflects what we’re like on the outside. GOD’s word reflects what we’re like on the inside.
have you ever seen yourself in the bible? hebrews says, GOD’s word detects the thoughts, intents, motives and desires of the heart. many years ago, queen elizabeth, who was beautiful in her youth, ordered that all of the mirrors be removed from buckingham palace because she couldn’t stand to face that she was growing old.
a lot of people don’t read the bible because they’re afraid. they’re unwilling to face themselves and see themselves as they really are. they don’t want to look in the mirror of GOD’s word.
just a thought from the front porch…
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