Putting Our Focus In The Right Place

James 1:22 Do what God's word says. Don't merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves. 23 If someone listens to God's word but doesn't do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, 24 studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 However, the person who continues to study God's perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don't merely listen and forget; they actually do what God's teachings say. (God's Word)


Most of the Christian life I believe is wasted looking at others and critiquing their "level of spirituality" but the real critique should be the man you face in the mirror. Have you ever realized how easy it is for you and a friend to spot somebody's shortcomings. It is very easy if you are honest with yourself. Mot of us are what I call "fruit inspectors". We are eager to judge the spiritual "fruit" of ministries, ministers and other people. One problem man can only see the outer appearance and God knows the heart of a man or woman. God has given us the Word of God as a mirror and a standard to compare ourselves to. (I hope you already know it's not good to compare yourself to other people.) Let's say we awake for our day and go to the mirror and don't fix ourselves up and hit the streets. After a while you'll wonder why all the strange stares because you forgot what you have seen in the mirror and have gone on with your day. The mirror gives us a true view to correct our appearance before we leave and forget what we really look like. The problem is we want to be the mirror or have the authority of the mirror in other people's lives. That authority and place belongs to the Word of God alone and was not given to you for good reason. We have enough on our plate with having to apply God's Word in our own lives. Even with that said Holy Spirit is working that Word within us to do His good pleasure. It's easy to see what others do and ignore or excuse our own short comings because we want to do our thing. You have already forgot what you looked like in the mirror. God help us keep the focus where you placed it, in Your Word.