1. James 1:22-25

2. The Parable Of The Mirrors A peddler stood in the city square and shouted, “My merchandise can change your life!” A crowd quickly gathered, and the peddler displayed a cart full of mirrors. “Preposterous!” cried the crowd. “How can mirrors change our lives?” Most of the people scoffed and walked away. But three women stayed to take a closer look. Each finally decided to buy a mirror.

3. James 1:22-25 The Parable Of The Mirrors The first woman bought a small fancy mirror. “I do not want to look at myself,” she thought as she walked home. “So the mirror will have to change my life from another room.” She mounted it in an unused study where it was soon covered with dust and cobwebs.

4. James 1:22-25 The Parable Of The Mirrors As she walked home, the second woman said to herself, “I will not waste my time looking into this mirror. It will have to change my life as I carry on my daily duties.” She mounted her mirror in the hallway where she glanced at it occasionally.

5. James 1:22-25 The Parable Of The Mirrors “If a mirror is to change my life,” the third woman thought, “I must get as much out of it as I can.” She mounted the mirror in her room and stared into it expectantly each morning. Soon she began to notice when her hair was out of place, so she combed it carefully. She observed blotches of old makeup on her face, so she washed them away.

6. James 1:22-25 The Parable Of The Mirrors She saw that her dresses were torn and plain-looking, so she mended them and added lace and color. Soon others began noticing the old woman was using her mirror. She was invited to tea by her neighbors. She was visited by new friends. She was even courted by the most eligible bachelor in town, whom she eventually married.

7. James 1:22-25 The Parable Of The Mirrors One day the changed woman met the other two women. They were still unchanged. “We all bought life-changing mirrors from the peddler,” the pair said, “but our lives have not been changed like yours. Why?” The changed woman smiled. “It’s all in how you use the mirror,” she said. “The more you see yourself the way you are, the more you change. Mirrors don’t lie.”

8. James 1:22-25 Observations From James 1:22-25

9. James 1:22-25 A Literal Mirror Is For The Present  We all use one everyday  None of us will leave our homes until everything is in place  Mirrors don’t lie…they truly reflect what is on the outside  Remember the queen from Snow White ?

10. James 1:22-25 A Literal Mirror Is For The Present  We put a lot of credence into what we see in our mirrors  We spend hours in front of our mirrors  Yet, our mirrors are limited  They cannot ward off the aging process, eventual death

11. James 1:22-25 The Spiritual Mirror Is For Eternity  Precisely the Bible’s point in Jas 1:22-25  This “mirror” won’t lie, either  This “mirror” truly reflects what we are… on the inside cp. Rom 3:23 Prov 23:7  Therefore, James exhorts us re: how we use this “mirror”

12. James 1:22-25 The Spiritual Mirror Is For Eternity  James’ exhortation re: this “mirror”  We must “do” & not just “hear” v. 22  Also taught by Jesus Mt 7:24-27  Not encouraging “mechanical action” (just going through the motions)  “Hearing only” = self-deception, delusion (to hear with no intent to act upon)

13. James 1:22-25 The Spiritual Mirror Is For Eternity  James’ exhortation re: this “mirror”  “Hearers” only are described vv. 23-24  Like a man who looks into a mirror only to walk away, forgetting what he saw  He doesn’t use information given by the mirror the life about as much as a glance into a mirror the heart is to quickly forgot it, and influences  Hearing the Bible w/o allowing it to sink into

14. James 1:22-25 The Spiritual Mirror Is For Eternity  James’ exhortation re: this “mirror”  “Hearers” only are described vv. 23-24  The Bible teaches the importance of how one hears and what one hears Mk 4:24 Lk 8:18  Yes…teachers bear responsibility Jas 3:1  But hearers bear tremendous responsibility, too Mt 12:38-42

15. James 1:22-25 The Spiritual Mirror Is For Eternity  James’ exhortation re: this “mirror”  “Hearers & Doers” will be blessed v. 25  They look intently into the word cp. Jn 20:5, 11  They are highly interested…no passing glance  They know there is something important to see  We are under law to Christ Gal 6:2 Rom 8:2  There is liberty in this law Jn 8:31-32

16. James 1:22-25 Conclusion  We need to use “God’s mirror” like we use our literal mirrors  Do we use it everyday?  Do we not leave the house until everything is in order?

17. James 1:22-25 Conclusion  Like our literal mirrors, “God’s mirror” cannot ward off aging or death either  But it can prepare us for eternity Heb 9:27 Eccl 12:13-14  “God’s mirror” gives us feedback for our eternal good 2 Tim 3:15 Jas 1:21

18. James 1:22-25