"Mirror, Mirror On The Wall"

“MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL!”

James 1:22-25

Introduction: The title of this message is “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall!” Does anybody know where that saying comes

from? ( ANSWER: Snow White).

The wicked witch in that story sure liked it when the mirror told her that she was the fairest. But when it told her that

she wasn’t ... then she got very angry and very jealous.

That’s the thing about GOOD mirrors, they always tell us the truth, even if we don’t like what we see!

But if a mirror is going to work properly, it must be a proper mirror. I.e. Have you ever been to a funhouse that had

distorted mirrors? They don’t really show us how we are do they?

Wait a minute... I was supposed to show you something about mirrors today. I’ll be right back!

{Leave and put a big blotch on your face! Bring 4 different mirrors with you. ACT LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG!}

MIRROR #1 A PIECE OF ALUMINUM FOIL

This mirror is like the mirror of the world.

This world doesn’t really have a clear view of right and wrong. It’s blurry.

MIRROR #2 A MIRROR COVERED UP WITH STICKERS

This mirror is the reflection you get from your friends.

Man, it looks good. It’s pretty. But it doesn’t do much good.

Other people also have problems, and so when they tell you how good you are or how bad you are, it won’t be accurate!

They will reflect to you what their own standards are.

MIRROR #3 A MIRROR THAT IS BROKEN

This is the mirror of religion. Religion makes a lot of good claims, and does contain some bits and pieces of truth. HOWEVER,

it is cracked up and incapable of revealing the full truth.

MIRROR #4 A GOOD MIRROR, BUT SMALL.

{Put this one up on the wall}

This is a good mirror. This represents the Bible, God’s Word.

James tells us that it gives a perfect reflection and can show us our strengths and our weaknesses.

The only problem is, for the mirror to work, we have to get close to it!

(Try looking at yourself from a distance. Then move closer.

Notice the spot and then wipe it off!)

A forgetful hearer is someone who sees themselves in God’s Mirror, but then goes away and does nothing about it. That’s silly

isn’t it? If you see the problem, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

WHEN WE LOOK INTO THE MIRROR OF GOD’S WORD, WHAT DO WE SEE?

1. We see our flaws. We see that we are sinners.

2. We also see that Jesus Christ died for our sins.

3. We see that by believing in Jesus Christ, we can be

changed forever.

THE BIBLE IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER MIRROR, because it can actually change us! II Corinthians 3:18

GOD’S MIRROR CAN MAKE US BEAUTIFUL on the inside!