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Seeing Yourself

 

James 1:23 - 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.



“A man beholding his natural face in a glass.” A mirror is a very interesting thing, and it is used here as a picture of the Word of God. When you look into a mirror, you see a reflection of yourself, you see yourself as you really are.

You may have noticed that on some pictures of Abraham Lincoln there is a wart on his cheek but that on others it is not there. As one artist was preparing to paint his portrait, he began to have Lincoln move around. He said, “President Lincoln, will you sit here?” Then this man would move his easel and have Lincoln shift around again. President Lincoln began to smile because he saw what the artist was doing. He was trying to get Lincoln in a position where the wart would not show. Finally, the artist was satisfied, and he asked, “President Lincoln, how do you want me to paint you?” Lincoln replied, “Paint me just as I am—wart and all.” That's what a mirror will tell you; if you have a wart, it will show up. That is one reason many of us don't like to spend too much time in the presence of a mirror. My friend, the Word of God will tell you what you are.

“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.” Someone will say, “It ought to say woman.” A woman usually carries a little mirror around with her to be sure her hair and makeup are all right. But what about men? Do they look in mirrors? They are just as vain.  A man likes to be sure his tie is straight, and his hair is combed. We are living in a day when our appearance seems to be very important. A mirror reveals our flaws.

There is a danger, though, of looking into the mirror, seeing the flaw but doing nothing about it.

 

James 1:24 - For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

 

The Word of God reflects who we are. Spend time in it; learn about yourself.