Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only. —Samuel Butler
There are days when I don’t look, feel, or even smell righteous. I am the one who looks in the mirror and sees the wrinkles, the extra pounds, and the thousand other areas that need improving. I know my areas of temptation, anger, and tendency to be self-centered. Because of what I see and because of what I feel about myself sometimes, I have trouble believing I’m “in Christ,”… not because I don’t know Him, but because I know me.
Thankfully, my identity is not based on appearances, feelings, or behavior. Neither is yours! It is all about what God says about you. His Word is the true mirror that shows you who you are in Him. Just a few reflections:
- I am very loved: John 15:9, Romans 8:38-39
- I am adequate in Christ: 2 Corinthians 3:5-6
- I have the Spirit’s power: Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:19, 3:16
- God rejoices over me: Zephaniah 3:17, Isaiah 62:5
The Word knows us from the inside out. The world, of course, teaches us to look at the external. For example, when the Jews were in need of a king, Samuel went looking, and he found some impressive specimens. But God knew better:
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Sure, your old heart was wicked and dead. But now, when the Lord looks at your heart, He sees the new heart given in Christ, a heart that has been made pure and alive. That’s why the mirror of the Word, and not the mirror on the wall, tells you who you are.
Jesus, I embrace Your mirror of truth today! In faith, I hold on to the truth about who I am in You, regardless of appearances and feelings. Bring specific truths to my mind today that I might be a living reflection of You to the world. Amen.