The Man in the Mirror

      How do you handle yourself from day to day?  Life is not easy.  And it will probably never be easy.  Why?  Life is not fair.  In the book of James, our Lord’s brother addresses Christians who were not handling life as a Christian should.  In James 1:23-25 he says, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”  He encourages them to take a good look in the mirror of God’s Word. 

      It seems that mirrors have come up a lot in my preaching over the past several weeks.  In fact, I talked about mirrors again Sunday night as we spoke of transitions in life.  As Christians, we need to take a good look at ourselves in the mirror.  How can this help?  Let’s allow James to help us!

      (1)  By Looking in the Mirror We Can See Our Problems The Way God Intends (1:1-8).  In trials, we should count it all joy (1:1-4), but we should ask for help (1:5-8).  This is also seen in James 4:2-3, 5:13-20. 

      (2)  By Looking in the Mirror We Can See Who Our God Really Is (1:9-18).  God is in control (1:9-12, 5:1-8) and is always near (1:13-18, 4:6-10).  Acts 17:27 says, “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”

      (3)  By Looking in the Mirror We Can See Our Source of Life (1:19-25).  The Word of God is the source of life.  II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  We should heed the Word of God (1:19-21) and we should obey it (1:22-25).

      (4)  By Looking in the Mirror We Can See How Our God Sees People (1:27-2:13, 5:19-20).  People are used for His ministry (1:27, 2:1-8).  We must keep in mind that people are going to be judged (2:9-13, 5:19-20).  Acts 10:34 says, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.’”

      (5)  By Looking in the Mirror We Can See Our Faith In Action (1:22-25, 2:14-26).  Faith does not just sit there (1:22-25).  Our faith must be put into action because faith leads to our justification (2:14-26).  Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

      (6)  By Looking in the Mirror We Can See Our True Wisdom (3:1-18). True wisdom is controlling the tongue (3:1-12), but is basically self-control (3:13-18).  James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

      (7)  By Looking in the Mirror We Can See Our Money As God Intends (1:9-11, 5:1-9). Money is a great challenge and an equalizer (1:9-11).  Money is also corruptible (5:1-9).  I Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

      If we take a look in the mirror of God’s Word there is much to learn.  We should remember how important it is to apply the things we read in the Word.  When we do this we will be able to handle the cares of this world and be blessed.  When you look in the mirror, what do you see?