21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
I look at myself daily. Not just because I’m vain, but because I was raised to make sure anytime I stepped out of the house, I was presentable. I have passed this on to the kids, so I know they represent me well when they are out of my sight.
As I continue to grow in faith, I find that I tire of the ‘shifting’ I do. Bawdy jokes and talk no longer have the same punch, the desire to drop it like it’s hot doesn’t pull me to the clubs on the weekend, I can attend a holiday function without knowing the bartender by first name.
Something is still missing. It’s not just enough for me to shout out that I’m a Christian. My actions are supposed to show that.
Of course, as I read through the New Testament, I found the same thought. I’m reading through James, and while much stood out to me, verses 1: 21-25 was really powerful.
According to the text, Christians must routinely look at our spiritual mirror. Reading the Bible, meditating on what was read, spending quiet time with God, and putting ourselves under a Christian microscope, are things we are to do to maintain our walk with the Lord.
If we read the word but it isn’t reflected in what and how we live this is akin to seeing a spot of dirt on our face but not washing it off.
What is
– Created on the fly by Mrsrkfj
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