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Reflected in the Word

article by Alisa Rim

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

We all know the value of introspection and being still before God.  So why is it that we are constantly driven to distraction?  Whether it's work, school, family responsibilities, cleaning, exercising, shopping - there's always something that has our attention.  We're all busy (some of us more than others), but the truth is we will make time for the things that we consider important and bring us happiness.  To be sure, seeking God requires discipline and focus, but I believe that the driving force behind spending time with God is desire - craving and valuing his presence.  If I'm "too busy" for God, what I'm saying is that I don't really desire Him. 

When I do manage to find a few moments to think and pray, I wonder how deeply I'm connecting with Christ; after all, communication is not only expressing what's in my heart, but also listening for the heart and mind of God.  I believe one of the best ways to know God is through meditation and memorization of His Word.  The Scriptures contain everything we need to know about God's heart and character; and the answer to every situation we face - be it a time of joy and blessing or one of sorrow and adversity - lies in the Bible.  Of course there are other ways to hear from God, but how will we be able to discern what's truly of Him unless we know His ways and what He thinks and feels?  The validity of prophecy and our understanding of God must be measured against the plumb line of the Word - not because the pages of the Bible are in and of themselves sacred, but because Jesus is the Word; His truth is anointed because He is anointed.

In this passage James likens Scripture to a mirror.  The Word of God reflects who we truly are, exposing hidden desires, thoughts and motivations.  What is sobering about this passage is that God warns us that it is possible to "merely listen to the word" but be completely blind to our spiritual condition.  How often do we feel satisfied by putting in our "pew time"?  Sometimes going to church gives us a false sense of security; God tells us that it is possible to be fully acculturated by the church and not have any inkling as to the kind of relationship He desires with us: "these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men" (Isaiah 29:13).  The prophet Jeremiah understood this capacity for spiritual blindness when he lamented, "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).  So if we can't trust our own sense of our relationship with God, how can we truly know where we stand with Him?

James tells us that listening to God's Word isn't enough; we must obey Him in order see ourselves clearly.  To think about James' analogy in practical terms, let's try and think about the last sermon we heard.  What was the challenge to us?  Chances are the message went in one ear and out the other unless you took those words to heart and began to do something a little differently.  Faith is actualized in the doing - even if we don't fully understand how things work.  Peter's few brief steps upon the water were only possible when he obeyed Jesus and got out of the boat.  Obedience is doing what God tells us to do when and where we hear His voice.  It is important to note that obedience does not equal works.  So often we assume that we are in tune with God simply because we are busy with church activities.  For some of us, a radical act of obedience would involve being still and knowing that He is God.  For others, God is calling us to "fear not" and place our trust in his faithfulness and the certainty of His promises.  The point is, something needs to change - be it a behaviour or an attitude.  In Scripture no one who encountered God ever walked away the same person.  When God revealed His glory to Moses at Mount Sinai, his face shone so brightly that the Israelites were afraid to approach him.  Being touched by Jesus resulted in eyes and ears being opened, criminals being reformed, and sins being forgiven; for the religious authorities, an encounter with Jesus resulted in angry confrontation.  There is something about God that compels a response, either positive or negative - but it is impossible to remain neutral and unaffected. 

We know that Jesus is "the Word made flesh."  He is the incarnation of the Scriptures and everything in the Bible points to Him.  We can only become more like Him by the gracious work of the Spirit and by allowing His Word to transform us through the renewing of our minds.  When we internalize scripture the Truth, i.e. Jesus, becomes part of us.  May God open the eyes of our hearts so that we may see Jesus more clearly, and in beholding the most beautiful person who ever lived, glorify Him by desiring Him above all else.