Looking in the mirror - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

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.
James 1:22–24

Looking in the mirror
What do you think about when you look in the mirror? When a believing Christian does that, he has the opportunity to be reminded that God created me, wanted me, loved me, drew me to His heart, made me His child, and I belong to Him, having accepted the Lord Jesus as my Saviour.

When I have this foundation in life, it is much easier for me to accept myself as I was created by God. Then I am not primarily concerned with pleasing people but with pleasing God, and I no longer need to run after the latest fad. My surroundings only see my outward appearance, but God knows my heart. A pure heart is more important to Him than a wrinkle-free face or perfectly tailored clothes.

Besides, God has given us another “mirror” and is pleased if we look into it regularly: the Word of God shows us what we are like on the inside. It penetrates us “even to the division of soul and spirit … and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

When I recognise dirt on my clothes, I put them in the wash. Likewise, when God shows me stains through His Word that I need to confess before Him, I should respond. Perhaps then I will also become aware of something for which I need to ask a person’s forgiveness.

How nice when I can then happily look in the mirror again, because I know that there is nothing that stands between me and God.

Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 22:20-32 · John 1:19-28