Mirroring His Face and Life

From James 1, with a few thoughts:

The one who simply hears [the message] and does nothing about it is like a man catching the reflection of his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, it is true, but he goes on with whatever he was doing without the slightest recollection of what sort of person he saw in the mirror. 

This is one of those times where a metaphor is so immediately memorable, so “picturable,” that there’s a danger we’ll not internalize its literal meaning. So, what is James saying to us? That the “word of the Gospel” is meant to be the place in which we see ourselves, come to see the change God is effecting in us, and constantly check-in for reminders and “re-reminders” of His view… of us! In essence, it is a constant reflection of the very face of Jesus. And, as Paul has it, in 2 Corinthians 3, the more we gaze on this mirror—and live out the ways we see that Face in its reflection—the more we see our own faces looking like Jesus. In fact, that’s the heart of how James continues in the next verse:

But the one who looks into the perfect mirror of God’s law, the law of liberty (and freedom), and makes a habit of so doing, is not the one who sees and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true blessedness. (James 1:23-25) 

So, according to James, what are our two necessary actions? Simply: To gaze upon Jesus and to do as He does. Or, I’ll put it to you this way: 

Only those receiving a constant love tend to constantly love. 
Only those enjoying the joy of the Lord tend to impart joy. 
Only those at-peace with the heart of God tend to spread peace. 
Only those so grateful for the long-suffering patience of God are persistently, steadfastly patient with others.
Only those enrapt by His kindness find the gear to be and to live likewise. 
Only those receiving of HIS goodness tend toward activities of constant goodness.
Only those full of faith tend to, in the end, live a life that’s faithful.
Only those knowing the gentle heart of God prize the heart of gentleness.
And, only those coming under the direct control of God tend toward the beginnings of self-control. 

Do you see what I did there? Do you see what’s in the mirror? It’s the ways we receive the fruits of the Spirit—the literal inner life and personality of Jesus—that defines how we put into practice, by that Spirit, those very same fruits. We receive… and we then give away. A rhythm of experience and of offering.

What a way to live in our New Year!