For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. – James 1:23-24
A man dashed toward the door, glancing at himself in the mirror on his way out. His hair was not combed and his clothes were askew, but he did nothing about it—there was no time, he thought. He did not feel very good about himself, but it was not long before he was so involved in his day that he completely forgot what he had seen in the mirror. However, the people he came in contact with during the day noticed his appearance; they saw a person who was unkempt and a bit disheveled. He could have avoided the negative impression he was making if he had just taken some time to correct the problems he saw in the mirror that morning. Rising a few minutes earlier would have given him time to comb his hair and to make adjustments to his appearance.
Most of us would not think of facing the day in this manner; we want to look nice and give a good impression to the people we will see throughout the day. Our outer appearance is important, but as Christians, we should be even more concerned about being well-groomed on the inside. In order to “look good” inside, we need to take the time to “hear” the Word of God, and then let it reflect in our lives.
There are many ways to hear God’s Word. We hear it when we read the Bible, when we attend church and Sunday school, and when we listen carefully to sermons, songs, and testimonies. As we put ourselves in places where we can absorb the truths of the Bible and meditate upon them, God will help us to understand what we are hearing and hide His Word in our hearts. Then it becomes vitally important for us to practice what we have heard, for our efforts will be pointless if our lives do not change as a result.
When reading the Bible, I often have the thought that I am looking into a mirror to see if my life is reflecting what I am reading. God wants each of His children to reflect His presence in their lives. If we do not reflect His teachings, our focus verse tells us that we are like a man who looks in a mirror and sees his reflection, but goes away and immediately forgets what he has seen. As we hear the Word of God, let us determine to apply the principles and concepts that we learn, and reflect His love in our lives.
Dear Lord, Help me to reflect You in my life. I want the “Beauty of Jesus” to be seen in me.