The Bible is like a mirror that shows us who we are in the light of God’s holiness (James 1:22-25). This spiritual mirror can help us grow into the image of Jesus Christ.
When we look in a mirror, we see our actual appearance. Mirrors don’t lie. We may imagine certain things about our appearance, but a mirror will tell us the truth. We see the condition of our hair, our face, and our clothes. In response to looking in the mirror, we change things. If our hair is out of place, we comb it. If our face is dirty, we wash it.
Jesus said unless we become like little children, we can’t enter the kingdom of God (Matt. 18:4-5). Children know that they need help, and they accept help. Their parents help them tie their shoes and comb their hair. We need God’s help in order to grow spiritually. This means we need to approach the word of God like little children. Spiritual growth happens when we are honest with the word of God. Humility before the word of God enables us to repent and change.
It’s often easier to look at others to criticize them. We can see blemishes more easily in others than we can in ourselves. But God gave us the mirror of his word primarily so we can see ourselves, not others.
God is greater than we are. He knows more than we do. The Bible is supposed to be over us, not the other way around. Sometimes we may not like something in the Bible. We may say, “I don’t really like that part of the Bible.” This is a wrong attitude. The Bible is the word of God. It is perfect. It is a perfect reflection of God himself. If we don’t like part of the Bible, then we don’t like part of God. We need to change ourselves, not criticize the Bible.
When a mirror tells us our hair is messy, there is no point in hating the mirror.
Throughout history, God raised up prophets to reveal his word to his people. He told his prophets to be bold, because people would hate them (Jer. 1:17-19; Ezek. 2:3-7). The people of God often stoned the prophets. They persecuted them. They dumped Jeremiah down a muddy well and left him to die. The reason they hated the prophets is because they hated God’s word. They didn’t want to repent.
Jesus Christ is the word of God made flesh. He was hated too. Rather than repent when God’s mirror showed them their need, the Pharisees tried to smash the mirror. They didn’t expect Jesus to resurrect.
The Christian life is a big calling. Jesus commanded us to be as perfect as God (Matt. 5:48). Peter said we should be as holy as God (1 Pet. 1:15-16). James told us to be perfect (James 1:4). Paul told us to be perfect (Col. 4:12, 2 Cor. 7:1, Col. 1:28). The word perfect is the Greek word ‘teleios’ which means to become mature or full-grown. It means to fulfill one’s purpose. This basically means becoming like Jesus (Luke 6:40).
Growing into the image of Jesus is a process. We are not yet perfect. We are not yet like Jesus. No one throughout history has reached this point. Paul was probably the greatest Christian in the New Testament, but he had not yet reached the great goal of the Christian life which is to be conformed into the image of Jesus. He was pressing on to get there, through the power of the Holy Spirit (Phil. 3:12-15).
We grow into the image of Jesus as we look into the mirror of the Bible and apply it to our lives. We need to not just hear the word, but do what it says. As we obey the Bible, we are changed into the image of Jesus. Obedience causes us to go from one degree of glory to a higher degree of glory (2 Cor. 3:18).
Obeying the word of God means to take up our cross. As we do this, our flesh is crucified. The crucifixion of our flesh enables us to walk more strongly in the Spirit.
God has given his word to us so we can grow into spiritual maturity. Look into this mirror daily. Read it. Listen to it. Be in fellowship with other believers. And do what the Bible says. This is the secret to a successful Christian life and to growing into spiritual maturity.
Lincoln House Churches 