Mirror… Mirror…

FAVORED1 — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:38:29 +0000

Monday, January 25, 2010

But don’t just listen to GOD’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then GOD will bless you for doing it.

[James 1:22-25]

Good Afternoon Beloved,

HAPPY MONDAY! What a beautiful spring-like day DC/Metro. Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! I am privileged to know some of the most wonderful people. Talented, sweet people who are a joy to be around. One of my brother’s-in-Christ, Andrae, has a great sense of humor, and coined a phrase, “do you like what you see?”, to people he deems are staring at him. I thought about that this morning in relation to this verse in James. The Bible is balanced. It admonishes us to “judge not lest we be judged” [Luke 6:37], and then tell us to, “judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. [John 7:24]. Folks love the “judge not” part. We hear that everyday. “Don’t judge me”. I’ve been to funerals of people that everyone knew lived a life of murder, drug-dealing and various criminal activities, and all through the congregation, people show up wearing tee-shirts, posters and buttons that say, “Only God can judge him now”. I don’t think they understand how scary that really is… you really don’t want God to Judge you and find you on the wrong side. Choices for God are made on this side of eternity. The price for waiting too long is way too costly. The human soul was so valuable to God, that the King of all Kings left His throne in Glory, to enter earth’s atmosphere, and shed His own blood to redeem it. The Bible gives us a little glimpse into our future:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of CHRIST; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad. [2 Corinthians 5:10]

Remember that God’s Word said,

”holiness, without no man will see the Lord”.

Simply put… there are things we need to judge… but when we judge them, judge right… according to what the Word says and not our personal preference and taste. If you feel convicted not to wear pants, that’s fine, just don’t make a doctrine out of it. What does the Word of God, (which is the final authority) have to say about the situation. Do you like what you see? That’s a question we all should ask ourselves everyday. Am I looking more like Christ? Am I more loving, more generous, more forgiving than I was yesterday. Am I working harder, and more diligently on my mission and purpose. Am I moving toward God or drifting away from Him? Questions only we know the answer to. The good news is that we have the power and authority to change whatever we see in us that we’re not please with. Not judging ourselves using the yardstick of another fallible human being, but judging ourselves by the Word of God, submitting ourselves to His Lordship, and allowing the Spirit of the Living God to make the changes in us that only He can. Then we will be that “Church without spot or wrinkle of any such thing”… perfect… blameless powerful, good and Holy… the very image of our Daddy.

… and that Beloved is Good News!

Y Stress? … U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

“Worship Medley”, Darwin Hobbs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CGdwBrIvww

“Work On Me”, Tonex

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ22a–zHLs

“God Didn’t Give Up On Me”, Deitrick Hadden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpEIrIJFTHs

“He’s All Over Me (and He’s Keeping Me Alive)”, Georgia Mass Choir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsAK8xQS0CU