What's in your Mirror? – Part 1

James 1:22-25 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 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.”

This week, Michael writes: It's difficult for people to surrender to anything. God will limit himself to what we decide to do with our lives. Are we living for ourselves or for him?  God wants to bless his people. However, the blessings of God are conditional upon following in our Lord's pathway according to His word and not our own.

Psalm 134:4 says “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Sometimes God's command is, "Ask me for my blessings."  It's often difficult for people to ask God for His blessings.  The answer to this prayer for God's blessing may be that we must endure trials and tribulations. The greatest blessings are blessings in disguise. 

Romans 5:3-5 “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

When we look at the Word of God, it's like looking into the mirror. People often avoid looking into the mirror. The mirror reveals our flaws. It shows us how short from the glory of God we have fallen. God did not give us His word to make us smarter; He gave us His word to change our lives. The Word of God transforms lives. The exhortation is to "order my steps according to thy word." When God gives us His revelation, He expects us to obey. He doesn't ask for consent. Rather, He commands obedience. The Holy Spirit will guide us in the way we should go when we meditate upon His word. Our heart's desire must be, "I want your will above all things." The answer to this prayer will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death. It will show us that God is the source of our sufficiency ... that we cannot live life without His power. Our job is to live according to His strength and not our own.  

James says, "Faith without works is dead." God gives us opportunities to serve, to give, to turn the other cheek, and to go the second mile. If we disobey God's will, the devil will say, "don't ask for forgiveness. Think about your own self." Satan will condemn us when we don't do the will of God and yet He will discourage us from confessing our sins.  However, God made a way to return our hearts back to Him: “For when we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

Let’s continue Michael message “The Mirror” in tomorrow’s post.

In Christ, Brian