Friday, October 1, 2010

Hear and Act

Those who hear and don’t act are like those who
glance in the mirror; walk away, and two minutes
later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

James 1:24 (The Message)

Looking in a mirror isn’t always pleasant. I remember when my daughter was a toddler she loved looking at her reflection in the glass, in mirrors, anything that confirmed her appearance. Her reflection was comforting and she saw nothing “wrong” with the image. What I noticed was, as she got older, she began to see herself with a more critical eye. Now she has joined my ranks - avoiding the mirror if at all possible!

Using the Bible as a mirror to reflect my life becomes a minefield. Like walking away from my reflection I tend pick and choose which “images” in the Bible I want to reflect. I find comfort in the reflection that I am loved by God, but, it’s a harsher reflection when I read that my enemies deserve love as well. Being forgiven is a gift, until what is reflected back is that I first must confess my sin. It is so much easier to focus on the beauty instead of the ugly.

And then there are those sticky parts of the Bible! Like running into a spider web, I simply can’t shake off the Biblical truths that I don’t like. Loving each other sounds like Shangri-La until I am wronged by someone. And instead of “going to your brother” (Matthew 18:15) I end up going to anyone but him thus creating untold damage.

Hearing and then acting takes an effort of one’s will. God cannot make us “do” anything but he has given us a mirror that reflects how we are doing!

Jesus, help me to look into Your mirror
and see not only how I look now, but
the image you desire to see.
Amen.

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