A Jesus Mirror??? Or Not?  A Word from THE WORD!!! #470

Today I want to focus on a rather lengthy passage from the book of James; it is apropos to the world we live in, and I pray will help us to examine the things we see and hear (especially those things purported to be from and about Jesus—but are often less than true to the Jesus seen in the scriptures!).  It’s like what we looked at recently in Paul’s messages to his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, that we are to study God’s Word not man’s! And as we also considered the truths found in the book of Hebrews, reminding us that God’s Word IS that which is the standard of judgment!  And with so many contrasting messages being put forth in our world, we must—I repeat—we must know what God has said.  And just as a note of reference, we aren’t the only ones to ever rely upon our own wisdom, but when that’s done the results are recorded for us, and they’re not good.

“In those days there was no king in Israel,

but every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Judges 17:6

“In those days there was no king in Israel:

every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Judges 21:25

Just a note for information, when things are repeated in scripture we need to take extra heed.  We live in such a day, so I’d like us to consider the message of James to those who claimed to be believers.  And I’ll make only this note of my own opinion, it’s not what we claim to believe, but whether or not we have truly been born again and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within; as I often mention, just “saying so, doesn’t make it so!”  Only the new birth can make it so!  Paul said it better than I can. (I encourage you to read all of Romans 8!)

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.”  Romans 8:8-10                                (See 2 Corinthians 5:19-12)

With that being said let’s proceed on to consider James’ message to us!  Will we look into the mirror of God’s Word, or a mirror of our own choosing?  Will we see the truths of Jesus or a cultural modification of our own selection?

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart

all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into

the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

 this man’s religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled

before God and the Father is this,

To visit the fatherless

and widows in their affliction,

and to keep himself unspotted

from the world.”  James 1:19-27

And one of Jesus’ pictures of those who are His own.

“Blessed are ye,

when men shall revile you,

and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil against you

falsely,

for my sake.

12 Rejoice,

and be exceeding glad:

for great is your reward in heaven:

for so persecuted they the prophets

which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light

unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

 and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:11-16

And one last word of Jesus’ to His own.

“If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

 for my name’s sake,

because they know not him that sent me.”   John 15:19-21

I pray that you will look unto Jesuss, “the author and finisher of our faith…” (See Hebrews 12:1-3); and when you look in that mirror you will see more and more of Jesus!

Amen and Amen!!!