Two Mirrors

How do you see yourself: through the mirror of self-awareness or the mirror of God’s Word? None of us has ever truly seen our own face; only a representation of it.

James 1:22-25 But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (work: faith manifested through action)

The Mirror of self-awareness

We tend to look at ourselves very differently than others do. Pride has us thinking we are something we are not. Shame has the same effect. Afterall, we know ourselves (pros and cons; good or bad; successes and failures) better than anyone else. When we look through this mirror, we only see part of the whole picture. This mirror is very distorted and one-sided. You cannot see the real you, only a belief of who you think you are. And that picture is subject to change based on your feeling and/or the circumstances at any particular moment in time.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (NKJ)

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (NKJ)

A mirror only shows you one dimension at a time.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (NKJ)

The Mirror of God’s Word

God’s mirror gives us a 360 degree look at ourselves. Yes, it shows us what is wrong and things that are missing or out-of-place. But it also shows us how God sees us – as a beloved Heavenly Father looking at His children. I cannot know how God sees me outside of His Word. Let’s look at what Scripture says about us.

1 John 3:1-2a Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; … (NKJ) (used over 171 times in the Bible)

God sees us as strong conquerors without limitations.

Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (NKJ)

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (NKJ)

1 John 4:4 You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (NKJ)

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be reconciled to God. 21 For He (God) has made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who (Jesus) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (NKJ)

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (NKJ)

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (NKJ)

1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.” (NKJ)

1 John 2:12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. (NKJ)

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Stop looking at yourself in the mirror. Start looking at yourself in the Word. How you see yourself will determine what you receive from God. He has already provided it through His Son. Believe what God says about you, and you will have whatever the Scriptures say you can have.