Reflections of the Word

The Word is a Mirror

James 1:22–25 KJV 1900

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 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. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Several Examples of People Finding Themselves in the Word

David found himself facing his sin from the Word

2 Samuel 12:1–7 KJV 1900

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

John quoted Scriptures to frame his identity

John 1:22–23 KJV 1900

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Jesus pointed to the Scriptures to define his purpose

John 5:39 KJV 1900

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Paul found his purpose in the Scriptures as well

Acts 13:46–47 KJV 1900

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

How to Use the Word as a Mirror

The purpose of a mirror is to reflect your image back to you. I want to encourage you to use the Bible in this way, to read the Bible in such a way that you find a reflection of yourself. And the reason, as James said, is not just to give you a picture, but to give you an opportunity to adjust your image into what is right and good, to make good decisions, and to ultimately fulfil the purpose of God in your life.

Some preliminary suggestions:

Find a good translation that you can read and understand.

Choose a suitable passage length - by any breakdown (book, chapter, verse, paragraph, header section, etc)

Read a passage multiple times.

A Suggested Method: Lectio Divina

Read (lectio)

Meditate (meditatio)

Prayer (oratio)

Contemplation (contemplatio)

Key elements

Read slowly, letting the words soak into your mind and understanding.

Ruminate. Think carefully and prayerfully. Consider what’s happening.

Relate. Filter your own life over the passage, and seewhat applies to your life.

What lesson is it teaching? Where can I use that?

What characters are in the story?

How do the events of this passage relate to the events of my own life?

Find the response pattern that applies, and see how that fits in your own life.

Apply the pattern (continue therein).

Conclusion

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 KJV

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

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