OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL – TUESDAY – 15/09/2015 – AFRAID OF YOUR MIRROR IMAGE? – BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

AFRAID OF YOUR MIRROR IMAGE?

Memorise

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:

James 1:23

Read

James 1:22-25

22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

23  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: 

24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

25  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.

Message

The word of God is very central to our life as believers. In the very last admonition of Moses to the children of Israel, He said the word of God is their very life (Deuteronomy 32:46-47). For believers in Christ today, the word of God is also our life, because it is through it that we are born-again, as revealed in 1 Peter 1:23:

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

After we are born-again, the word of God performs several functions in our life. One aspect of these functions which is rather interesting is that it works as our mirror. 

A mirror shows the reflection of the one using it. A man may hold an opinion of himself for a long period, but when he has the opportunity to look in a mirror, he will see himself as he is. In this age of flattery and political correctness, you may be shocked by the time you compare what you see in a mirror before you, to people's assessment of your person. Why is this so? We live in a time when it has become very difficult for people to call a spade a spade. They prefer to tell you what you want to hear. They are prepared to flatter you and say those things that can keep them in your good books, particularly if they hope to curry your favour. If the friends you surround yourself with cannot point out your faults when you go wrong, change them. If you don't, they will lead you astray.

Unlike men who will flatter you, the word of God tells you who or what you are without fear or favour. When you stand before the perfect law of liberty, you will see yourself exactly how God sees you. The word of God will reveal the stains in your garment of salvation and show you the wrinkles on your robe of righteousness. One reason why people avoid hearing, reading or studying the Bible is because they are afraid of seeing their true picture. They want to continue to live under self-deception. Some other people look at the mirror of God's word, see their stains, dents and imperfections, and yet they refuse to do anything about it. This is the height of foolishness! If God's word cannot correct you, what else can? The Bible in James 1:21 says:

 "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."

Receive God's verdict about you in His word today, and stop trying to justify yourself.

Action Point

Every time you look into the Bible and you see something amiss in your robe of righteousness, immediately correct it.

Bible in one year

Exodus 33-34; 

Romans 15:14-33