Mirror Reflection

After being away for some time on a business trip, ... Bill thought it would be nice ... to bring his wife ... a small gift.

"How about some perfume?" ... Bill asked the cosmetics clerk.

She showed him a bottle ... costing $60.00.

"That's a bit much," he said, ... so she returned ... with a smaller bottle ... for $30.00.

"That's still quite a bit," ... he complained.

Growing annoyed, ... the clerk brought out a tiny $15.00 bottle.

"You know," ... he said, ... "What I mean is ... I would like to see something ... really cheap."

So, the clerk handed him ... a mirror. (Long Pause)

In today's text ... James also speaks ... about a mirror:

BIBLE 23 For if anyone ... is a hearer of the word ... and not a doer, ... he is like a man ... who looks intently ... at his natural face ... in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself ... and goes away ... and at once ... forgets ... what he was like. END (James 1:23-24)

The Apostle Paul ... shares this truth ... about the mirror of life: "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, ... But then we will see face to face." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Beloved ... What is the first thing you do ... when you get up in the morning?

Whatever it may be, ... it is probably the same thing ... every day.

Everyone ... seems to have their own special ritual... their own special routine... to get them going ...in the morning.

Maybe you have a cup of coffee ... before you start the day.

Maybe you make your bed as soon as you get up ... maybe you jump ... right into the shower.

Others have to brush their teeth ... before they can do ... anything else.

Some start their ritual ... the night before;

Putting coffee and water ... in the automatic coffee maker.

Laying out the clothes they will wear ... the next morning.

Yet ... some part ... of everyone's morning ritual ... is coming face to face ... with ... the mirror.

Most of us ... probably get our first glance at ourselves ... while we are still ... a little scary looking.

Our eyes ... have that bleary, ... dazed look.

Our hair ... is sticking out in strange places ... and others ... are growing ... in new places.

And even normally clean-shaven guys ... have some scruffy overnight growth on their face ... to deal with.

Facing our mirrors ... is Not ... that pleasant ... of an experience.

Why? ... Because Good Mirrors ... are very honest ...little things.

They do not ... compromise.

(Slow) Mirror, Mirror on the wall ... who's the fairest of them all.

Good mirrors ... do not lie.

They do not gloss over our defects ... and tell us we are better-looking ... than we really are.

They show us every wrinkle ... every gray hair.

In fact, ... the better the mirror, ... the more flaws ... you will see.

So why do we all have mirrors ... in our bathrooms?

Well ... because as unpleasant as it may be to confront our own faces first thing in the morning;

We know ... if we do not take a look at ourselves, ......and make some minor ...... or in some cases major adjustments, ... the rest of the world ... is going to see ... that morning face!

So, ... It is better to "face" the truth, ...and make the changes... So, we are somewhat presentable ... to the rest of the world. (Long Pause)

Beloved... If we are going to be ... all that God has called us to be;

Then we must have ... a clear vision ... of who we are ... and a clear vision ...of what needs to change ... in our life. (Pause)

As I thought about this passage ... I began to realize ... that all of us ... look at life ... in slightly ...different ways.

We all look at life ... through ... different mirrors!

What image do you see ... when you look... in the mirror?

Who is that person ... in the reflection?

We each ... see ourselves ... differently.

Because we are seeing a reflection ... of who we think ... we are.

Yet ... where is that reflection ... coming from?

Beloved ... What kind of mirror ... are you looking ... into?

Hear God's Word: BIBLE "For now we see in a mirror, dimly; ... but then we will see face to face ... now I know only in part; ... but then will I know ... fully ... even as I have been ... fully known." END (1 Corinthians 13:12)