[360 words]
Chances are good that you have looked at yourself in a mirror today. Usually, viewing our physical appearance is one of the first things we do after getting out of bed in the morning. We do this because we know there are some changes which need to be made. We need to brush our hair, put on make-up, shave, etc.
Though we want our physical appearance to be appealing, we should be more concerned about our spiritual attractiveness.
The Scriptures teach that God has a spiritual mirror which enables us to view ourselves spiritually. James wrote, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 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. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:22-25).
Just suppose that one looked at himself in the mirror, saw that corrections in his physical appearance needed to be made, and then walked away making no changes. If one did that, looking in the mirror would be useless. Why look to see if changes need to be made in one’s physical appearance, if he is not willing to make those changes?
By the same logic, it does no good to look into “the perfect law of liberty” (God’s Word), realize that changes need to be made spiritually, and then fail to make those changes. This is why it is stressed in the above passage that we are to be “doers” of the Word. Hearing only is not sufficient. Application of what is heard must be made; otherwise, as James wrote, we “deceive ourselves.”
Let’s all resolve to look often into God’s Word to see what spiritual changes we need to make. Seeing the need for change, let’s love the Lord and His Word enough to change for Him.
Mark Lindley
Chapman church of Christ
Ripley, MS