April 6, 2006

Mirror, Mirror on the wall…

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9 – 14

Remember the quote from Snow White…mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all…the evil queen thought she was until the mirror revealed that is was Snow White. The Pharisee believed he was a righteous man but Jesus said that the tax collector was justified because he was humble…the tax collector realized he was a sinner and needed God. When I look in the mirror, I examine myself…do I need to shave, do I need a haircut, do I need to get some facial products for my face…When I am before the God I need to examine myself, but sometimes it’s easier to examine others. Lamentations says, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.” Sometimes it’s easier, though, to examine others rather than self. I know for me it would be more fun to look at the character defects on those around me becuase I really don't want to look at me to closely...I'm not into change, I want to be comfortable...but if I am comfortable that means I'm talking more than doing. Truth is if I or you or really honest and open before the mirror and God, there's alot of pain and defects that I have or you have but God doesn't waste a hurt or pain. So if you are looking, really honestlty looking into the mirror today...are you wearing a mask or are you real before God and others.

-Gravy JMM