Reflecting the King

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it— HE WILL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES. (James 1:22-25)

We were watching a movie last night on tv with some friends called “Deck the Halls”.  The movie came out in 2006 and really is quite funny.  But even more than that, there is a reality behind it that leads me to the sad truth in most people on this earth.  The two main characters in this story are trying to find their identity in this world.  They want to be seen by people around them.  The goal of the neighbor who has just moved in is to be seen on Google earth, to be seen from space.  Isn’t that the goal of most people we meet in life?

How many of you can identify with just wanting someone to see what you do?  Wanting someone to give you credit for just one day in your life, just one simple event!  You’re not alone.  They write movies, books, and tv shows about it every day.  This isn’t by accident.  It’s because the longing in human nature is to be seen, to be someone, to be known.   But the truth is as Christians we live to make Jesus known.  He is the One our identity should be in!  When we look in the mirror, it should be Him we see

This is why the passage in James is so important.  Are you applying what you read in the Word?  If you don’t put it in your heart and apply it to your life, it won’t do you any good!  You will be like the man who looked in the mirror and walked away forgetting what his face looked like.  Instead, look in the mirror (plant God’s Word in your heart and apply it to Your life), than when you walk away you will still remember who you are.  You are a child of God, living your life for the King.  Living with a purpose.  A purpose to glorify the One who gave you life, the One who gave up His Son, so You would never have to fear the sting of death.

Lord, please teach me to apply every word that I read from the Bible to my life.  May I be changed daily, renewed spiritually, awakened in my heart, and always ready to spill over with joy for Jesus.  May I live my life to shine Your light brightly.  I pray that I will live to make You known, live for Your purpose, and fight the temptation of this world to be recognized.  May it be You that people see in me and by the time I leave this earth I pray there is nothing left of me.  

Seeking to be a Reflection of the King,