Reflections

1. In his book, Glorious Finish, Daniel Henderson challenges us to imagine a world without mirrors, reflections, or pictures. There is no way to see how we look to others. Is our hair messy? Are we in need of make-up? Does our beard need trimming? Do these pants make me look fat?

a. When Jewish people “sit Shiva” to comfort mourners, they cover the mirrors in the house – not the time for vanity

b. Types of Mirrors:

• Vanity Mirrors – reveals appearance – good or flawed

• Full-length Mirrors – big picture; clothes

• Carnival Mirrors –Distorted height and weight appearances

• Rear-view Mirrors – Where we’ve been; who’s behind us

[Mac Davis song: I thought happiness was Lubbock, Texas in my rear view mirror

2. There is a mirror which reflects our internal self – the true us

a. Our Maturity Level – 1 Corinthians 13:12 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

b. Our actions – James 1:22-25 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 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. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

3. The COVID-19 Virus has given us time to think about important mirrors:

I. Without Mirrors We Can’t See Our Selves (James 1:24 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.)

A. We Focus on Others

1. Judgmental spirit – B/c we don’t see others as God sees them

• Pharisee and Tax Collector – Luke 18:11 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

• Judging – Matthew 7:1-3 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

2. Envious spirit – B/c we don’t see ourselves as God sees us

3. Reflecting on the Word of God I see:

• God Loves YOU (John 3:16) and ME (Galatians 2:20)

• God Gives Gifts to You AND Me (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4)

• God Made us in His Image (Loving that he did; and loving that he told us)

• A Mutual Dependence – We on God and God on Us [“No other plan”

B. We See Problems Without Solutions

1. God allows injustice in the world b/c we do – abortion/holocaust

2. God wants us to be the solutions to problems

a. I can’t change the world, only me

b. But if I change and draw a line in the sand against injustice maybe you will change with me – Abortion; sex trafficking; pedophilia; immorality; pornography

c. Starts with ME/US as the people of God 1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

II. Without the Rear-view Mirror We Can’t See Behind

A. Granted, We Can Spend Too Much Time Looking Back and Miss the Journey Before Us

B. Where We Have Been Determines Where We Go

1. Destroy a Nation’s Roots and you can take it anywhere [Communists and US History;

2. Same is True of Biblical History – if we don’t know our roots, we will go wherever we want – grafted into roots of Israel (Romans 11:17) – Part of Abraham’s story

3. The Bible Looks Back to Look Ahead (Promises and actions of God; if he did in the past he will do again

C. We Can Miss the People We Are Influencing

1. “Make disciples” – Matthew 28:19 (also AVOT 1:1 “Make many disciples”)

2. Intentional – 2 Timothy 2:1-2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

3. Disciples are those we influence for Jesus formally or informally – children; neighbors; coworkers, . . .