From my distance on the elliptical machine at the gym each day, I see men and women in the wing with the weights, lifting and flexing, posturing in front of forty feet of floor to ceiling mirror. They watch each lift. They see themselves. They admire their progress. They like what they see. Each day brings further satisfaction. They keep coming back. They continue to improve on the images they see in the glass. They are determined to make an impression on people who observe them.
If there was a mirror into which Christians would look, they would be embarrassed by what they first see. They would want to start pulling on the stationary rowing machine, jump on the treadmill, ride a bicycle, pump arms and legs on an elliptical machine, and then move with timidity into the weight department and start lifting and looking. Look, look, look. With mirrors so dominant, one can't look away. And as the improvements begin, it is not surprising to see looking at us from the mirrored wall, the person of Jesus. As morality, and love, gentleness, peace, patience, kindness, become more defined, it is Jesus whom the viewer sees as all other observers do as well.
The apostles had lived with Jesus long enough to know that the inspired Word of God, the scriptures are that mirror in which all the character development machinery is found. The exercise that gets the great gain is obedience to God's Word. James wrote these words, " 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.." (James 1:23-25)
If there was a mirror into which Christians would look, they would be embarrassed by what they first see. They would want to start pulling on the stationary rowing machine, jump on the treadmill, ride a bicycle, pump arms and legs on an elliptical machine, and then move with timidity into the weight department and start lifting and looking. Look, look, look. With mirrors so dominant, one can't look away. And as the improvements begin, it is not surprising to see looking at us from the mirrored wall, the person of Jesus. As morality, and love, gentleness, peace, patience, kindness, become more defined, it is Jesus whom the viewer sees as all other observers do as well.
The apostles had lived with Jesus long enough to know that the inspired Word of God, the scriptures are that mirror in which all the character development machinery is found. The exercise that gets the great gain is obedience to God's Word. James wrote these words, " 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.." (James 1:23-25)
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