James 1:17-27
We see our reflection all the time- we look at ourselves in
the mirror we see our reflection in doors, windows, and sometimes even a mud
puddle. We want to make sure we look
good; our cow lick is brushed down, our clothes are straight, our make-up is
even, and to all the men- make sure you didn’t miss a spot shaving. But how much effort do we put into sharing
with others an adequate reflection of Christ in our life- sharing what’s on the
inside. Our inner beauty is vastly more
important than our external beauty.
We put a lot of time
and energy into looking good on the outside- choosing the right outfit, the
perfect shade of lipstick, anti-wrinkle cream etc. and we make a point to tell
people- you look beautiful today! And a myriad of other complements about
external beauty.
We are a beauty obsessed culture. All but one pop culture magazine I saw this
week had something about beauty on the cover.
Who’s too fat, who’s too skinny, who looks best without makeup?
We forget very quickly that what God sees as beautiful is
not what is on the outside- but the things that make the soul beautiful; being
quick to listen, slow to anger, ridding ourselves not of wrinkles but
wickedness, adding love and kindness not lotion and cucumber slices to our
daily beauty routine. Taking time to
hear and do the word of God- this is what makes us beautiful.
Our scripture lesson today goes on to remind us that we
can’t just be hearers of the Word, we have to be doers as well. This is akin to expecting to get skinny by
reading a fitness magazine; going to the gym and watching others work out while
eating ice cream and never putting tennis shoes on.
We have access to more information than we could ever dream
about fitness and healthy diets and there is a new skin care product coming on
the market nearly daily--- we have the information but at some point you have
to put it into action. I know I should
eat my fruits and veggies—but that cheeseburger just looks too good!
Our inner beauty is the same way- God gave us all the
information we need- the Bible and there are more books about the Bible than we
could ever read. We teach children from
an early age the song “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path”
but we have to read it, learn about it, talk about it with others, understand
it, and do it! It doesn’t matter where
the light is shining if we never intend to take a step off the porch.
Just like those fitness magazines- religion is worthless if
we don’t put what we learn in church and read about in the Bible into action!
The word of God has the Power to Save!!!!!
If we use it.
I am sure many of us have taken a CPR class at some
point. We spend a few hours in class,
read a book, watch a video, listen to someone talk about it then practice on
each other or a plastic manikin, and at the end we get a nice little card. It’s all good information to have- if we are
willing to use it. CPR saves lives. The American heart association states that
CPR can double or triple a person’s chance for surviving a sudden cardiac
arrest. Taking a CPR class is no use
though if we don’t do anything with the information we learn. Many people still feel reluctant to use CPR
in the real world though- even when they have passed the class. They worry about taking charge-I don’t think
I know it well enough, maybe someone else will help. What if I do it wrong? Do
I really want to help THAT person? What if they don’t want to be saved? But, doing nothing means this person will
die.
Yet, some of us do this.
We are willing to come to church, listen to scripture, talk about it in
Sunday school, sing about it, practice the teachings with others in the church
and claim it’s lifesaving power for ourselves but when it comes to using what
we have learned to save someone else’s life outside the church, we fail to
follow through with the doing part. We
have the knowledge and information necessary to save lives but are we willing
to share it with others? Do we
worry- What if they ask me a question I
can’t answer? Maybe someone else will do it.
Do I really want to save THAT person? Maybe they don’t want to be saved?
What is preventing you from sharing the lifesaving power of the Word of God
with others?
James reassures us in this passage though that we will be
blessed in the doing! Maybe it is
sharing your faith with a stranger, inviting someone to worship or Bible study,
maybe it is doing kindness and giving selflessly to someone in need- You will
be blessed. I have often heard when
people return from a mission trip, seeking to do the will of God, that they
often feel like they were blessed more than those they intended to help.
God just wants us to try.
Take what He has given us and use it, do something with it. You don’t have to lace up and go from couch
potato to marathoner in a day- take a baby step- start with walking around the
block. Just step off the porch and see where the light of God’s word is leading
you. He won’t ask you to do something without equipping you. Let other’s see your inner beauty- the place
in your soul where God reigns by doing the Word of God- share your inner beauty
secret with others. Have the image you see in the mirror be an accurate
reflection of Christ in this world.
As you come forward in a few minutes for communion. I invite you to take a moment and pause at
the alter for prayer. Reflect on your
own life- Can others see Christ in my doing?
Is my life an adequate appreciation of the Sacrifice Christ made for
me? Someone took the time to share
Christ with me and save my life- am I willing to share that lifesaving
information with someone else who needs it?
