Some years ago a man in California had two daughters in their early teens. One of the young ladies was quite attractive and the other was sort of plain. One day as they were getting ready to go to school the better looking girl looked in the mirror beside the face of her less attractive sister. The more plain gal complained to her father that this was done because she did not look as good. The father called his daughters to himself and gave them some excellent advice. I want both of you to look in the mirror everyday. You who are better looking are to do so as a reminder to never dishonor the beauty of you face by the ugliness of your actions. The less attractive girl was to look in the mirror as a reminder to hide her lack of good looks by the superior attractiveness of your virtue and beautiful conduct.

While I think that father was seeking to offer some good advice, I am not suggesting that we look down upon the way someone looks. We have numerous attractive young women and young men in our congregation. It is my hope that each of these attractive young people will continue to be attractive by the way they live their lives.

Many times we are told to hear God's Word. This stresses the great importance of hearing. I have wanted our congregation to hear because faith comes by hearing according to Romans 10:17. To help people pay attention I sometimes suggest that they take notes during worship services. However, as important as hearing is, hearing alone is not enough. James tells us that we are to become doers of the Word and not only hearers. The word that is often translated as hearers in this passage referred especially of those who were regular in listening to the lectures of a particular teacher, but never became real disciples. It is possible to hear God's Word taught and preached as an end to itself without ever turning what is heard into deeds accomplished.

We are to be hearers. We need to regularly hear God's Word, but we must go beyond just hearing. Otherwise we are deceiving ourselves. In the previous passage of Scripture that we examine last week James compared the Word of God to seed planted in our hearts. In these verses, James compares the Word of God to a mirror. The thrust of what James has to say is not for us to point our fingers and think of someone that we look at as a hearer and not a doer. We are to look at ourselves and realize that James tells of two functions of the Word of God as a mirror. Two functions of the Word of God as a mirror.

I. Examination of Ourselves

One of the primary uses of mirrors in our homes, in rest rooms, in offices, etc., is to be able to see ourselves, to make sure that we are clean, neat, and presentable. Sometimes the guys complain that the gals spend too much time in front of a mirror, but sometimes they may do so also.

Though some translations speak of the word mirror as a glass, the mirrors in the days James lived were usually made of highly polished metal. Like the mirrors of today, they enabled persons to see themselves as they really were. As we look into the mirror of God's Word we can see ourselves as we really are.

James points out mistakes that some people make looking into God's mirror.

1. The only glance at themselves. Verse 24 says, "just a glance and he goes off." James is saying that they do not carefully examine themselves as they read the Bible, that they only read it as a religious exercise. For a while when I was a teenager I did this. I had accepted Christ as my Savior and was trying to live right. My conscience would have bothered me if I had not read the Bible everyday. My conscience should have bothered me because sometimes I was reading it carelessly, only glancing at it, and not allowing the Scripture to reveal my deepest need.
   
   
2. See, then forgets what they see. V. 24b. If you look carefully enough to see your own imperfections in the light of what God meant for you to be, and what you by God's grace could become, that is great. However, the mistake noted here is for such a person to see and then forget. If we really allow God's Word to reveal our needs, to closely examine our lives, what we see should be unforgettable. Sometimes even persons who claim to be Christians are critical of those who really take God's Word seriously, when they really use it to examine their lives. Perhaps they think that because someone else is seeking to follow God's Word it will make them look bad.
   
   In the Scriptures, we have examples of men and women who really saw themselves as sinners before God, they responded to the Lord. In our churches today we could use the conviction of persons like in the days of great revivals. John Wesley wrote about a preaching service in his Journal entry on June 22, 1730, "While I was speaking, one before me dropped down as dead, and presently a second, and a third. Five others sank down in half an hour, most of whom were in violent agonies." In a similar fashion saints in the Scripture responded to a true knowledge of their hearts. (Isaiah 6:5), "Woe is me, for I am undone." (Psalm 51:3), David called out to god for mercy, "For I know my transgression and my sin is ever before me. Peter cried to the Lord, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man."
   
   
3. Fail to obey. V. 25 This person looks intently, peers into, aware of something he or she needs to see, but them fails to obey. Hearing and talking are not the same as doing. Peter and Mary peered into the tomb of Jesus on Easter morning. When we hear and obey, we find true freedom in Christ. This is responding to the perfect law of liberty. The examination must lead to repentance if we are to experience freedom form sin. When a sinner confesses his sin and commits his life to Christ he is cleansed. Example of David in Psalm 51. Our examination of ourselves should result in a changed life. Read I Corinthians 3:18

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