“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone  who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it– HE WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES.”

-James 1:22-25

 We were watching this movie last night on tv with some friends called “Deck the Halls”.  The movie came out in 2006 and really is quite funny.  But even more than that, there is a reality behind it that leads me to the sad truth in most people on this earth.  The two main characters in this story are trying to find their identity in this world.  They want to be seen by people around them.  The goal of the neighbor who has just moved in is to be seen on Google earth, to be seen from space.  Isn’t that the goal of most people we meet in life? 

How many of you can identify with just wanting someone to see what you do?  Wanting someone to give you credit for just one day in your life, just one simple event!  You’re not alone.  They write movies, books, and tv shows about it every day.  This isn’t by accident.  It’s because the longing in human nature is to be seen, to be someone, to be known.   But the truth is, as Christians we live to make Jesus be seen.  He is the One our identity should be in!  When we look in the mirror, it should be Him we see!

It’s not my goal on earth to be seen.  I’m not writing these devotionals for recognition.  I’m writing so that those who are reading may truly come to know God better through His Word.  This is why the passage in James is so important.  Are you applying what you read in the Word?  If you don’t put it in your heart and apply it to your life, it won’t do you any good!  You will be like the man who looked in the mirror and walked away forgetting what his face looked like.  Instead, look in the mirror (plant God’s Word in your heart and apply it to Your life), than when you walk away you will still remember who you are.  You are a child of God, living your life for the King.  Living with a purpose.  A purpose to glorify the One who gave you life, the One who gave up His Son, so You would never have to  fear the sting of death. 

Lord, please teach me to apply every word that I read from the Bible to my life.  May I be changed daily, renewed spiritually, awakened in my heart, and always ready to spill over in the joy of who You are inside of me.  I’m so blessed to have the abundance of wealth in the Word of God and pray that I never take it for granted.  May I use it daily to Your glory. 

Looking in the mirror,

Sarah