William Makepeace Thackeray once said, “The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion….”
A mirror can give us a reflection of our current state of mind. If we are frowning, we can see that reflection in the mirrors all around us; if we are happy and smiling, we can see that reflection in others. Mirrors help us to see what we are focusing on in our daily living.
In James chapter 1, we find that we are to be doers of the word and not hearers only. James uses the mirror illustration to say it’s “like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like” (vs 23,24).
What are we reflecting as we look into the mirrors around us? Are we reflecting our own desires or the love of God. If we aren’t reflecting God’s love by doing what the bible teaches, then we are reflecting our natural face – the flesh. If we want a lasting reflection in the mirror, then we must love others the way Jesus does. We must be doers of the word.
In earnest prayer and humility, we must desire to glorify God by reflecting Jesus to all those around us. Our desire should be that others would see the reflection of Christ in us.
James 1:22-27
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
Alētheia: Truth 