The Reflections Series
Presenting the “mirror” of God’s Word
Have you ever heard this? “When We Read God’s Word, His Word Reads Us.” This popular statement summarizes several scriptures that make this point. Here are a few.
2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” Hebrews 4:2-13 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 “ …But whenever someone turns to the Lord (Jesus is the Word), the veil (lack of understanding) is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.
My personal favorite, “mirror scripture,” is extraordinarily revealing, especially for the average Christian. Heeding the remarkable point made in this verse will change everything for the believer who wants to be genuine in his or her relationship with God.
James 1:22-25 “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. NLT
Reading or hearing God’s word, or even speaking to others about it is not enough. James tells us that we have to be intentional about applying His word to our lives. You have to obey what you read or hear, or you are only fooling yourself. The New King James version uses a slightly different translation, stating that: you are only deceiving yourself. The emphasis of this scripture is a dramatic departure for many who take the name, Christian.
The following commentaries are for Christians who desire to grow and mature in their faith by being challenged by the reflections seen in the mirror of God’s word.