Author: Beth JessupWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. In November of 1213, our son Joel and his wife they were thankful for and one particular item made me think. On November 8th, Hudson (their five years old) said, “I am thankful that God gave us mirrors…. because if we didn’t have mirrors, we wouldn’t be able to see our faces to see the dirt and wash that.” I thought, “Out of the mouths of babes,” as the old saying goes! More importantly, I thought of the mirror of God’s Word. How do we see ourselves in the most important mirror? We should think every day about the reflection that we see in God’s Word. We need to be concerned with how God sees us.
Our pastor has been teaching in the book of James, and he said, “James 1:23 and 24 teaches us that the Bible is a pure book. It is perfect, and it only shows forth accurate images. It can show us what we are and then how to clean up to make us what we ought to be.” I am afraid that in this world in which we live, we often do not take to heart what the Bible is teaching us. When I was growing up, I was taught to obey the Bible. The Bible is a treasure that should not be neglected. It is a privilege to own God’s Word and to be able to open it freely every day. When we look in His Word, we should recognize the sin in our lives, although sometimes there is sin in our heart, that is not so easily recognized because it is something like the backsplash of a kitchen sink. If we are in our kitchen all day preparing a meal or baking for a special party, we sometimes overlook what might have been splattered around the sink area until we begin to put things away. Often, we might think…. Where did that come from? Sometimes sin is like this in our lives. We need to wash our “faces” often as Hudson said, “to get the dirt off. I have been thinking more recently about the way Satan has been allowed to blind our eyes in so many ways. It has been a long time since I have heard the expression “worldly” used. It used to be that we could easily recognize the Godly things from the worldly things around us. As Christian ladies, I believe we need to keep our focus on how God looks at the things that we “want” to do or “are” doing. Have you taken a really good look at yourself lately? Does what you wear or how you act please God or do you overlook things because you like the way you feel about yourself? The definition of a sanctuary is a “dwelling place.” Not long ago, I noticed a product from a well known cosmetic company called “Self-Sanctuary.” Our inside selves are the main concern for our spiritual well being. When I think of “self-sanctuary,” it immediately reminds me of my heart. Don’t get me wrong! Anyone who knows me knows I am all for looking our best at all times. But more importantly, we need to work on the inside. 1 Samuel 16:7b says, “…for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” This is a serious matter. I know some ladies that have changed their appearance to seemingly suit their friends instead of their Lord. What is happening? Did we have a conscience years ago as we were growing up with principles to live by and now it doesn’t matter? Something is desperately wrong here!! God looks on the heart and that is where our focus should be. If our heart is right, and we live as close to the principles we have learned from God’s Word as we can, then there would be no need for changing. I was talking to someone very dear to me not too long ago, and she said, “We are responsible to God for our actions!” I know that!! I also know that God’s Word does not change! I do not understand how ladies who have lived by the Word of God can change to live as the world and think they are _ne!!! Romans 14:13b says, “…that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” Each of our lives should be a testimony of the transformation in our lives through Christ. So what mirror are we looking in? Are we looking to please God or man? Are we living the testimony of a consecrated life before others? As wives and mothers, let us please God to the best of our ability and live consecrated lives to bring glory to Him. When we do stand at the judgment seat of Christ, let us not be ashamed of how we lived before others, but let us be satisfied that we did all we could to please our Heavenly Father. Let us choose to look into the mirror of God’s Word every day and make our focus to count for Christ before God and man! “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: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” James 1:23-24
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BETH JESSUPFounder’s wife of Baptist Church Planting Ministry ArchivesCategories |