Esotropiart

"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

James 1:23-24 (NIV)

Every once in a while I think of this verse. Do you? Think about it. Most of the time you go about life not seeing yourself. You see your hands, forearms, chest, eyebrows and the blurry side of your nose. But do you think about what you look like? Sometimes, when I'm in a somewhat melancholy or thoughtful mood, I think of James 1:23-24. I think enough about it to go look at myself in the mirror. I challenge you to do it, even if you are the type who is uncomfortable with it. Look into your own eyes. Look at your facial details. Think about what you've been doing the past week. Think about your best and worst moments. Think about who you used to be, who you are right now, who you might end up being down the road based on the directions you are currently taking, and who you would like to be if your best dreams came true. When you start feeling distant from yourself, perhaps you feel like a different person - maybe it will help to look at yourself in the mirror.

As a more direct application: it's too easy to sin, isn't it? In our culture of individualism and relative wealth, it's "natural" to choose actions that bring comfort to self. We often walk around each day as empty pods. But do you ever sit down and think of who YOU are? I can't say I do much. I certainly sin and falter more than my share. It confuses me to no end that I am bound by this fleshly package, when supposedly - I must believe it - I am a new creation in Christ. Even if I don't feel like it, something (or perhaps everything) is different. How can this be? I don't really have a great answer (certainly not one that abides by any rule of logic). I can say little concerning this with much certainty, but this I can say: It is not by my own ability but through the power of Him who lives in me - that same Spirit of Power that brought Jesus from His earthly tomb, reaping eternal life from death!

So here is what I look like today. Nothing hidden or whitewashed, messy hair et al. I pray my eyes are brighter in a year (if I'm here), and not darker. I only wish I could peer into the blinding eyes of Another, One who is holy and true. Look into me, bless me, transform me - a glance might be more than I could bear - nevertheless, it is my deepest desire. Perhaps aside from a touch from His hand and His robe to wipe my tears.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)