Amy Kelley, Dir. of Program Ministries, Gethsemane

James 1:22-25 (CEB)

22 You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. 23 Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror. 24 They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like. 25 But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do.

 

Reflection:

The last thing I want to do sometimes is look in the mirror, especially first thing in the morning. Once I wash my face, wipe my eyes, and put my glasses on I can see every flaw and wrinkle reflected back. But this is the face God created and I should be glad in it, right?

 

It’s ironic that the last devotional I wrote for the Daily Habit was on James 1:19-21 about being slow to anger. It was called “Quick to Listen, Slow to Drive”. Well, this scripture today comes right after that. In our cars, we use our rearview and side mirrors to keep ourselves safe and others safe. We also use those mirrors to notice what others are doing wrong like tailgating or lane weaving, which then triggers anger. Well, here in this scripture, we are reminded to look in the mirror at ourselves. But not just look but remember who we are.

 

We were created in God’s image, and that image is love. We have heard God’s command with our own ears, and that command is to love. God speaks to us through our pastors, people of faith and the Bible. I truly take to heart a prayer that Pastor David prays before he preaches:

 

Loving and everlasting God, I pray that You would open up our ears so we might hear you today and open up our hearts so that we might receive you today; maybe for the first time. God please open up our eyes so we might see you. Open up our mouths so we might proclaim you. Open up our hands so we might be doers of your word and not hearers only. And God please move our feet so we might walk your way all week long. Amen.

 

Verses 23-24 ask how can we walk away from that unchanged? Just as we look in the mirror in the morning and get ready for the day, we must also hear the Word and be ready to DO for the day. James reminds us in verse 25 that God will bless us in all that we do.

 

Prayer:

Amazing God, it’s hard for us to really look in the mirror sometimes. Help me to see what you see…. Love. Help me to receive your love because You say I am worthy. Help me to do what have called me to do, and that is love. I promise, loving God, to remember who I am and WHOSE I am. I love You. Amen.