What Do You See In The Mirror
James 1:22-24 (The Message - MSG)
22-24 Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! 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 1:22-24 (New Living Translation - NLT)
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Do you remember what you saw this morning in the mirror? Now that you are on with your day? When do you go back and look in the mirror? In my weight journey, I have done this! Get up, plan the day, get dressed, and only "look" in the mirror long enough to brush my teeth, do my hair, and a bit of makeup - then... NOPE, didn't look in the mirror again. Even when I used the restroom throughout the day - I didn't really "look" in the mirror again. Partly denial and partly rebellion. Denial of the truth of what I was doing to myself and how far out of control I had become in my choices and actions. Rebellion because I wanted to do what I wanted to do, and NOT "see" the truth of my actions and behaviors when it came to food and fitness.
I love the way The Message says it! When we "hear" Gods words and truths, and then don't "act" on them, well, we are just fooling ourselves and behaving like we do when we glance in the mirror (Yes, that Michael Jackson song "I'm looking At The Man In The Mirror" is totally going on when I say thee words! LOL). But Michael wasn't too far off, of what God is calling US to do with His word: what we hear and read - we are to DO towards others, including ourselves. Today, pick up your bible, open the bible app, go online to biblegateway.com and "listen" to God's word while you are walking, driving, or doing stuff around the house... THEN, when something jumps into your heart - LISTEN, follow what God is nudging you to do. Don't just 'glance' but actually carve out some time, even 10-15 minutes, and actually listen/read "expecting" God to hear you and answer your prayers/requests/questions in His word. He will!! I'm praying for you and your day - that you will actually 'take a look' in the mirror. Be well, be safe!
[Verse 1]
I'm gonna make a change
For once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I turned up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street, with not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their needs
A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top
And one man's soul
They follow each other on the wind ya know
Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know
[Chorus]
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
[Verse 2]
I've been a victim of a selfish kinda love
It's time that I realize
There are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me pretending that they're not alone
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed out dream
They follow the pattern of the wind ya see
Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me
[Chorus]
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
[Bridge]
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
You gotta get it right, while you got the time
Cause when you close your heart
Then you close your mind
22-24 Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! 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 1:22-24 (New Living Translation - NLT)
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Do you remember what you saw this morning in the mirror? Now that you are on with your day? When do you go back and look in the mirror? In my weight journey, I have done this! Get up, plan the day, get dressed, and only "look" in the mirror long enough to brush my teeth, do my hair, and a bit of makeup - then... NOPE, didn't look in the mirror again. Even when I used the restroom throughout the day - I didn't really "look" in the mirror again. Partly denial and partly rebellion. Denial of the truth of what I was doing to myself and how far out of control I had become in my choices and actions. Rebellion because I wanted to do what I wanted to do, and NOT "see" the truth of my actions and behaviors when it came to food and fitness.
I love the way The Message says it! When we "hear" Gods words and truths, and then don't "act" on them, well, we are just fooling ourselves and behaving like we do when we glance in the mirror (Yes, that Michael Jackson song "I'm looking At The Man In The Mirror" is totally going on when I say thee words! LOL). But Michael wasn't too far off, of what God is calling US to do with His word: what we hear and read - we are to DO towards others, including ourselves. Today, pick up your bible, open the bible app, go online to biblegateway.com and "listen" to God's word while you are walking, driving, or doing stuff around the house... THEN, when something jumps into your heart - LISTEN, follow what God is nudging you to do. Don't just 'glance' but actually carve out some time, even 10-15 minutes, and actually listen/read "expecting" God to hear you and answer your prayers/requests/questions in His word. He will!! I'm praying for you and your day - that you will actually 'take a look' in the mirror. Be well, be safe!
[Verse 1]
I'm gonna make a change
For once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I turned up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street, with not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their needs
A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top
And one man's soul
They follow each other on the wind ya know
Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know
[Chorus]
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
[Verse 2]
I've been a victim of a selfish kinda love
It's time that I realize
There are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me pretending that they're not alone
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed out dream
They follow the pattern of the wind ya see
Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me
[Chorus]
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
[Bridge]
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
You gotta get it right, while you got the time
Cause when you close your heart
Then you close your mind
Comments