A Mirror

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

We have telescopes so we can peer into the depths of space and study galaxies, stars, planets and other bodies. We have binoculars to bring natural wonders up close. We have microscopes so we can see what can’t be seen with the naked eye. We marvel at all the details each of those bring out. We celebrate each observation and discovery.

Many times we treat Scripture like a pair of binoculars, or a telescope or a microscope. We want to use it to expose the failures of others, to highlight the shortcomings of society and culture and politics. We spend our time dissecting statements and motives and actions, and we report on our findings.

But mirrors are a different matter.

We often shy away from mirrors. Mirrors make us face our flaws. They destroy our illusions about the pounds or the wrinkles or the gray hair. They cause us to evaluate and take inventory.

Scripture is meant to be a mirror. It’s personal. I can use to it measure my progress as I work towards my goal. I can review what’s behind me. Each and every day, it confronts me. It challenges me.

Until the image looks more like Jesus and less like me.