MIRROR or REFLECTION?
James 1:22-25
“22But be a doer of the word and not only a hearer, and do not deceive yourselves. 23For if a man will be a hearer of the word and not a doer of it, this one is like one who sees his face in a mirror, 24For he sees himself and passes by and forgets how he was. 25But everyone who gazes into The Perfect Law of Liberty and continues in it, he is not a hearer who heard what is forgotten, but is a doer of the works, and this one shall be blessed in his work.”
Mirror defined: something that shows what another thing is like in a very clear and accurate way; a polished or smooth surface (as of glass) that forms images by reflection
Reflection defined: the return of light or sound waves from a surface; something that shows the effect, existence, or character of something else.
A “doer” not only a “hearer” otherwise we are not reflecting the Word meaning we are not showing the effect, existence or character of Jesus, the Word.
If we are like one who merely “looks into a mirror” what we are doing is being “introspective” and/or self- focused. Looking into a mirror we see a clear and accurate image of us, outwardly…but the Word cuts to the heart, when we hear it…the question is what do we do with that?
Hebrew 4:12 says it this way, 12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
When the Word cuts to our hearts it is revealing what is in us that does not look like God our Father, Creator; Jesus our Savior, Healer, Deliverer or Holy Spirit our ultimate teacher! Why? To bring reformation, transformation and change…so we look, act and talk more like Them!
That word in Greek is esoptron: meaning gaze, place, time and purpose. This sheds more light on this meaning because when we spend time in the Word that reveals in our own hearts what we have done, retrospectively which affects us in the “here and now” it should lead us to be a “doer” as to change the course of our thinking, speaking and actions. That is called, “transformation” see Romans 12:1-2.
It is basically like seeing where you went wrong and how to change it but instead hearing it and never doing anything about it!
Ultimately this leads to a “hardened heart”.
Hebrews 3:7-13 AMP
“7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts, as [happened] in the rebellion [of Israel] and their provocation and embitterment [of Me] in the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tried [My patience] and tested [My forbearance] and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years. 10 And so I was provoked (displeased and sorely grieved) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not perceived or recognized My ways and become progressively better and more experimentally and intimately acquainted with them. 11 Accordingly, I swore in My wrath and indignation, They shall not enter into My rest’. 12 [Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God. 13 But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him].”
Beloved, remember… II Corinthians says, “17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”
When we are “born again” HOLY SPIRIT filled followers/believers of Jesus Christ the Messiah…we are made a NEW creature inside. We are working in this life to learn to allow what is already inside of us to “come out”!
Working out our “salvation” literally means working out our salvation, healing and deliverance how? BY hearing and doing the word!
When we look inside with Holy Spirit we see how vastly different our old man was compared to who we are now as new creatures…our “working out” part is putting into practice working with Holy Spirit to allow HIS lead, HIS voice in us to be followed by us so that we make “right choices” and therefore go in right directions by how we think, speak and act!
This is why “fear of the Lord” is the beginning of wisdom…meaning we do not want to lose His presence at any cost because we REALIZE and RECOGNIZE the value of Him, like a pearl of GREAT price! It is why wisdom is coming to KNOW Him…
“The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence];
But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.” Proverbs 1:7
Wisdom dear ones is the “how to do” what God has given us as instructions. AND we are “wise” to know, that apart from Him, we can do nothing yet…we CAN do all things through Christ (Anointing = Holy Spirit) who strengthens us. (John 15:5 & Philippians 4:13).
Proverbs 9:10 says “10 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.”
Knowledge of the Holy One IS insight and understanding…this only comes through relationship. You cannot “know” anyone if you do not have relationship with them. You can know “about” them but until you learn to walk, talk and LISTEN to them and their heart…you do not actually “know” them.
To be a Mirror is an inanimate object that reflects in order for that person to see themselves…God knows what He looks like and HE wants to actually see US BE a Reflection of Him… which means to actually carry the character, existence, effect even sound and light of Him.
When you see an apple, you don’t see the meat or seeds inside yet they are there. When it is cut into, you see the meat of the apple, the skin and the core where the seeds are located. Many seeds in fact, from that one apple many trees can come. The apple never worries about whether or not it will “bear fruit” it is in side. When what is inside comes out and is nurtured by being safely planted, watered and the sun can give warmth to it, out pops a young tender tree. One day after weathering storms and such…it too will bear many apples that have many potential seedlings for many trees to come! That TREE never has to grunt and squeeze to produce one apple, it just comes forth. The tree’s job…so to speak, is to weather the storms and keep standing so one day it will become strong and become beautiful (healthy and sound) bearing much fruit!
When we hear the word and forget it, we are like a seed planted and blown away with the first wind or wave or even plucked up by birds…I believe you know the parable Jesus taught on that but in case you don’t (Matthew 13:3-49). But if we hear the word allowing it to reveal our hearts and teach us with revelation we ask for understanding and insight (in other words…wisdom) and Holy Spirit will help us to understand and grow in our spirits.
Before we know it, we are speaking, acting and doing differently but we first make the CHOICE to do so and practice what we have heard and learned. Otherwise…we ARE like a person who looks in a mirror and forgets what they see!
Choose to BE a REFLECTION not a MIRROR beloved! Reflect HIS light and love by hearing and doing what the Word says!
This message is for all of us in the body of Christ and hopefully we will quickly “see” a more true reflection of Heavenly Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit so one day…the world WILL know us by our love for one another ( John 13:35) and mostly for Heavenly Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit! BEING a reflection is ….bringing the Kingdom to this earth!
BLESSINGS to each of you!!