James 1:21-27)…..21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 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. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Looking at the same passage we read yesterday, let’s go on with what the text is teaching us concerning the implanted Word of God. I’m pretty sure you could find a mirror in every house one might enter, if not in a bag, purse, and car. My point is that each of us probably encounter a mirror at some point in the day where we observe ourselves in it. The main purpose for owning a mirror is to be able to see yourself and make yourself look as clean and neat as possible, but when we leave the mirror we don’t always remember what we saw.
In comparison, many approach God’s Word the same way, not remembering what they see or hear, what the Bible reveals about our imperfections. If we are to use God’s mirror (Word) profitably, we must look (gaze) into the perfect law of liberty, carefully and with serious intent, with no quick glances, and continue in it. What makes the Word so effective in revealing our imperfections, weaknesses, sin, etc.? God’s Word is perfect (Psalm 19:7-10)!
What happens when we look into God’s perfect law of liberty? We see ourselves as we really are, we see our flaws, we see that we are sinners, we see how holy God is, and we see our desperate need of Him (Romans 7:7-12). But also, looking into the perfect law of liberty, we are enabled to obey God (John 8:31-36) (Romans 6:17-18) (Romans 8:1-2) (Galatians 5:1). But let’s not use our liberty to sin (1 Corinthians 8:9) (Galatians 5:13) (1 Peter 2:13-17).
Our Lord wants us to grow, He does not want us to forget what His Word reveals to (in) us. This requires time, attention, sincere devotion, five minutes a day with God will never accomplish a deep spiritual examination.