The Word of God is an internal and external mirror...Now, the main purpose for owning a mirror is to be able to see and make you look as clean and neat as possible. As we look into the mirror of God's Word, we see ourselves as we really are. But we have to be careful not to make three mistakes when we look into the mirror of God's Word. Let's take a look at 3 common mistakes we make as we look into the mirror of God's Word.

Looking into the Mirror: 3 Common Mistakes

1 First, we merely glance at ourselves. We don't carefully study ourselves as we read the Word. Many sincere believers read a chapter of the Bible each day, but it is only a religious exercise and we fail to profit from it personally. Our conscience would bother us if we did not have our daily reading, when actually our conscience should bother us because you and I read the Word carelessly. A quick reading of the Bible will never reveal our deepest needs.

Remember the Lord's words to Joshua 1:8, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." (NASB)

Meditate on it day and night, meaning with thoughtfulness, linger over God's word. A quick reading of the Bible will never reveal our deepest needs. We read with thoughtfulness, linger over God's word, no quick glance will do. We must examine our own hearts and lives in the light of God's Word. This requires time, attention, and sincere devotion. Five minutes with God each day will never accomplish a deep spiritual examination.

2 The second mistake is you and I forget what we see. If we're looking deeply enough into our hearts, what we would see is a sinner in desperate need of a Savior. Remember how God's people in the Bible responded to the true knowledge of their own hearts.

Isaiah cried, Isaiah 6:5, "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." (NIV)

Luke 5:8, "Peter fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (KJV)

I look in the mirror and remember I'm not perfect, spiritual growth still needs to take place, I need to comb through the tangles of sin in my life and I to see where I need to wash and be cleansed.

3 Third mistake: We fail to obey what the Word tells us to do. Anyone who hears the word but does not change his behavior is like a man who takes a fleeting glance in the mirror each morning, then completely forgets what he saw. He gains no benefit from the mirror or from looking into it. God's mirror, the word when we gaze into it, we see where we need to act or change. Hearing is not the same as doing. We Christians enjoy substituting reading for doing, or even talking for doing. We hold committee meetings, retreats, every Sunday get a sermon, attend a small group, a bible study, weekly meeting, enjoy Sunday school and think we have made progress. While there is certainly nothing wrong with events and meets all are vitally important, but can be sinful if they are a substitute for service...God's mirror, the word creates life change.

A person who looks at God's Word and yet does not apply the truths, is like someone who immediately forgets what he has just seen in a mirror.

Each day as you spend time with the Lord, follow the exhortation of James to not just glance into the word but gaze upon it, so we will be more than hearers of the word but doers of the word.

God Bless, Pastor Alex Garcia