Friday, July 25, 2008

Are You Fooling Yourself?


Are you fooling yourselves. If a person just listens and doesn't obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can't see himself anymore or remember what he looks like.
Who/What do you see when you look in the mirror?
"Mirror, mirror on the wall ... lie to me!" Don't we sometimes wish?

Unfortunately, mirrors don't lie. Unless, of course there is a flaw in the mirror maybe it's distorted. If so, its reflection will also be distorted. And if I am not true to my word and do what I say I am going to do, there is something distorted within me.
Keeping one's word and promises is a character trait to be highly valued. It is being authentic and maintaining integrity.
Unfortunately, it seems that keeping one's word for many anymore doesn't amount to too much. Sadly, a person who doesn't keep there word or there promises can not be relied upon. Neither can they be trusted. And a person who claims to be a Christian and doesn't genuinely and consistently seek to keep and obey God's Word cannot be relied on either.
James says, "Don't fool yourselves.
James 1:22-25
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
If we are mature, we will act in a mature fashion. If we are responsible, we will act in a responsible manner.
And if we are sincere and genuine, we will act accordingly. We should also be quick to listen, slow to speak.

7 comments:

Joyfulsister said...

Amen Sister!!!

Just look upon a child's face when a promise to them has been broken, hear the sadness in a voice of a parent in a care home who patiently waits for your visit because you said you would be there on the weekend only to call and say you can't make it.
Keeping our word and promises are so vital and so important especially when there are people who put all their hopes into our promises and in our word for it does reflect our character. what a great reminder.. thank you Sharon.
Hugz Lorie

Lynn - JnL4God said...

HI Sharon,
I've tagged you. Come look at my blog to see. I like your choice in music.
Hugs,
Lynn

Plant Lady said...

Sharon,
I got tagged by AliceE.
I posted six things about myself on my blog if you are interested.

We share a soft spot for the elderly.

Blessings~
Plant Lady

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Sharon,
Okay, the Blogs Under your settings there is a place that asks you how many blogs to show. I think I stayed with whatever came up I think it was 7. If you can't find it let me know and I will look specificly.
The Study. I will be using the book and the study guide. However just incase someone doesn't have the study guide I am going to try to post so that it can be followed. I think I will start in a couple of weeks but no later than Aug 11. I will play it by ear as far as how fast or slow we go. It may be a couple times a week or once a week.. we'll see.
Talk to you soon.
Hugs,
Lynn

Amy said...

Amen, Sharon!
I often wish the mirror would "lie" to me.
So many times in the physical it has.
For instance, jeans look great on my body in the mirror at the store so I buy them. But when I get home, my mirrors reveal the "truth" so I have to immediately return them.

I've heard so many times what is true in the "physical" is true in the "spiritual."

I wish I would always be as quick to change my spiritual flaws as I do my physical flaws.

Very thought provoking post.
God Bless,
Amy:)

From the Heart said...

A good post. My mirror never shows what I expect. As old as I am I still feel like I'm in my
30's, just can't do the things I could do back then.

As far as the house cleaning, I was very blessed to fine a lady who did not charge a whole lot and sometimes she would bring 3 or 4 people with her, but she had a lot of houses. She had to give up the business a couple years ago and her 2 sisters have continued. They come 2 times a month. We live in an apartment so it is fairly easy to keep straightened up, I just can't do the hard things. Once a year right before Thanksgiving they come only one day that month and do a very thorough cleaning. It has been a blessing. Of course my husband doesn't understand why they come because I always go through the house and do some things that I don't think they should be required to do, like things that get left just laying around. To him it looks clean but that doesn't get the dusting and vaccuming and cleaning the kitchen and bath rooms.
AliceE.

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Hi
Glad you haven't read the book we will read together in the study. I did an update If everyone is ready I think I'll start around Aug 4th.

To fix your blogs. When you are logged in go to "Customize" then go to "Settings" then go to "Formatting" It will ask you how many posts on the main page. Hope that helps.

Yes Church was great we are doing a series on "Being Supernaturally Natural" I did some sewing and cooking and studying so life is good.

Lynn