ACT ON WHAT YOU HEAR

MONDAY 27 MAY 2024

When you check your appearance in the mirror, it reflects your clear image or looks. Everybody values a mirror, and every household owns one at least. Some of us may consider it as just a flat piece of glass which reflects light, yet it's value, necessity and importance can never be disregarded because without it, you'd be walking with a feeling of uncertainty about your looks. When you look at the mirror, you can see yourself reflected in it. Same way, the Word of God is the mirror of our Christian life.

Reference: James 1:22-24 The Message (MSG)

"Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like."

Nobody leaves their house everyday without looking at a mirror to make sure their appearance looks well and great. Until you're convinced you look great, you'll remain in front of your mirror to correct any abnormalities, and the obvious observers are mostly, but not exclusively, females. Same way, the Word of God is given to us to look or gaze into everyday, until we are changed to look exactly like the dictates and glory it radiates.

When you read and study the Word, you need to believe what it says about you. That's the reason mirror was used in the above versified reference by the writer, James, as a perfect illustration because He knew that a mirror does not lie. We all believe what we see in a mirror, don't we? So James likened the Word to a mirror. Even when people tell you that you have a spot on your nose, the best way to confirm if they are right or wrong is to stand in front of a mirror and examine yourself. You'll definitely find out if its true and this shows you believe the mirror more.

The Word of God is our spiritual mirror. It reflects the glorious light of God, just as a natural mirror reflects light. When it says anything concerning you, you don't have to validate anyone's opinion or notion about you, if it contradicts the Word. The Bible shows us two different types of people looking at the same mirror of the Word of God. The first group are those who look at the mirror and immediately forget what they look like, as they go away. These are the people who believe the Word as they hear it, but immediately, they go away and start observing situations and contrary opinions, instead of holding fast to what they heard (James 1:23-24 ESV).

The other group are the doers of the Word and they are likened to people who continuously look into the mirror (perfect law of liberty). These are the people who do not give up in believing and acting on what the Word says about them, regardless of the situation around them. They don't observe lying vanities. They are strong in the Lord, and they are always ready to refer to the Word and confess what it says about them, in any given circumstance (James 1:25 ESV).

The great Paul of Tarsus explained that we are actually transformed into the image we behold in the mirror of God's Word. We are transformed into the same image with rapidly-escalating glory, as he penned in 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV). Indeed, because you continue to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, you are constantly being transfigured into His own image in ever-abiding splendour, from one degree of glory to another. This transformation we experience actually comes from the Lord Himself (who is) the Spirit. Therefore refuse to stop looking.

Interestingly, a mirror always shows you what you look like now or who you are today, not what you'll be tomorrow. Therefore what you see in the Word is what you are "NOW". You can see why you need to start confessing that you're blessed beyond measure, healthy, rich, prosperous, and all more so, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. They are your present-moment reality. Have you caught the revelation? Glory to God!

indeed, you are the quintessence of immutable beauty, the earthly radiance of heavenly wisdom, an exemplar of supreme excellence, an avatar of divine association, and a luminous quality of true success. That's what you are now, not tomorrow. Stop looking at any contrary description. You gear towards the acme of glorious transformation as you keep looking at this perfect mirror, verbalising the precepts and acting accordingly.

Refuse to accept any lesser description than the above-mentioned; don't give in to the expression of any contrary circumstance. Don't stop gazing at the mirror of the Word. You are too gorgeous to be sick (Isaiah 33:24 NIV) and too loaded to fail (Colossians 1:27 ESV). As you keep looking and vocalising what you see in the Word, the Holy Spirit will repackage you, remove all unwanted analysis attached to your life and transform you into what you see, from glory to intensified glory, because that is His job description in the mirror background. Glory to God!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 84:7; John 17:22-24; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Romans 12:2.

Exuberant Declaration:

I am very sharply smart, absolutely wise, downright courageous, Christly righteous and fabulously excellent. I am decidedly victorious in Christ Jesus, always cheerful and abundantly invigorated with might in my inward man. I'm enlightened, impacted, and transfigured by the Word of God every time I look into it as my perfect mirror. I am who God says I am,, and I have what God says I have: I am wealthy, prosperous and successful in all good things. I'm like a tree planted by the riverside, always fruitful and productive; hence my life is such a treasurable garden cultivated by the precious Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!