Looking at ourselves can be very revealing and lately has been a subject in our house. We've been recording the Sunday Sermon on video the last few weeks. Early Monday I awoke to the sound of my husband's Sunday Sermon as he watched what was uploaded. I had noticed Sunday that he had dressed a little differently than usual. I had commented to him as we left for church that he looked nice. He called me to the computer where we watched the video..and as we watched he blurted out. "Last week I looked scruffy...so this week I wanted to look better." I knew what he meant because in our Kingdom Principles series there were a few times where my desperate need of a haircut had almost prevented me from posting those videos. As a result I've insisted in keeping a proper schedule of haircuts. I realize that this is not vain pride...but rather it is natural and good self examination that came as a result of looking at ourselves and making needed changes. James 1:23 says, " For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance." NLT
- Don't throw the mirror away. I wish I could say that our physical appearance is the only thing that we are working on but that is not true. God sheds light on areas that need change. It can be painful and sometimes we want to throw the mirror away. I let my husband know that was how he's looked for a long time when he's preached. His answer was....well watching myself on video shows me my need for change.
- Don't walk away and put your head in the sand. Sometimes we look in the mirror of God's Word and Presence and we are overwhelmed by what we see. It is tempting to slip away from the mirror and pretend what we saw isn't really there..or hope it will fix itself. Examining ourselves demands a plan be formed to address the problems. It can be simple and it can be step by step...but improvement only comes with action.
- Don't despair. God's mirror is to be a help not to bring depression. His desire is for us to live life and live it abundantly and that sometimes requires changes in direction.
