The question, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all,” never did work out very well in the children’s stories; doesn’t do very well in life either! The question reveals something about a person that is shallow, empty, and in the end, unproductive and self-exaggerating. We live in a world of selfies and ‘mirror, mirror’ posts on the wall of fame. Don’t get me wrong; I love our pictures and your pictures too! But what’s the attitude behind the mirror? What are we actually looking at and for?

James uses this analogy of the mirror to warn us about looking into the mirror of God’s Word, claiming to listen while we’re actually letting it “go in one ear and out the other” (James 1:22 MSG). Instead, we should act on what we see and hear! We should look deeply into the Word of God, not haphazardly. To look and then not long for it to transform our lives is to act like a “distracted scatterbrain” (James 1:25 MSG) and The Phillips translation says if you look and don’t learn, “you are merely deluding yourselves.” You literally con yourself; not smart!

Psalm 119 is filled with instructions of how we are to meditate on God and His Word. Verse 15 says, “I will meditate on your precepts (God’s laws and instructions); Vs 27 he tells us he will “meditate on (God’s) wondrous works; and in verse 148 the psalmist desires to “meditate on your promise.”

The conclusion? Learn about yourself and what God requires. How? Study the Bible with an open heart and put into action all that God commands. The result? “That person will find delight and affirmation in the action” (James 1:25c MSG).”

“Father, help me to take an honest look at my own life in the mirror of your Word. Help me not to think of myself more than I ought, but to take an honest appraisal of my love for You and obedience to Your Word. I want…with all my heart…to Love You First! Amen.”