House of Hope Online

March 16, 2025

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Two weeks ago, we discussed 1^st Corinthians 13:9-13 where the Apostle Paul asserted that today we know in part, we prophesy in part, and we see ourselves dimly in the mirror.  We made the point when we see ourselves dimly, that is, without the perfect view of our perfect Lord and Savior, we can become depressed or discouraged.  When you see yourself dimly, you can become anxious or fearful.  Seeing yourself dimly forms an opinion of yourself or a future consequence without perfect knowledge, and that can be detrimental to your mental health and self-image.

Today I want to talk a little more about the face in the mirror.  In James 1, the face in the mirror is used as an analogy for the one who is a forgetful hearer of the word of God, but not a doer of the word. 

James 1:

 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

 24 for [once] he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the [law] of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. (NASB)

James draws a distinction between those of us who are “doers of the word” and those who merely hear the word, but do not allow it to change their lives.  He says those who merely hear delude themselves, that is, they are deceiving themselves, if they feel no obligation to change their lifestyle or behavior.  In addition, being a doer of the word not only means doing what the word of God says to do, but also not doing what it says not to do.  You are not a doer of the word if, for example, you accept the world’s view that there are other ways to salvation than Jesus Christ.  The word says do not accept foreign gospels, do not even give them a greeting.

Verse 24 is a profound truth.  James is saying that anyone who is merely a hearer and not a doer of the word of God is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror, and once he goes away from the mirror, he forgets what type of person he is.  He forgets that he is a sinner saved by grace, and he forgets to put the word of God into action.  He forgets the word tells him to seek righteousness in all matters, to love and care for others, and to share the Gospel with the unbeliever.

The man who is a forgetful hearer of the word is one who walks away from a teaching and does not rely on the Holy Spirit to guide Him in doing the word.  The word of God is our mirror.  It tells us what we should look like, and what we do look like in Christ, so we do not forget.  Once we walk away from the word, or from a teaching, we will forget. 

One of the tremendous helps of the Holy Spirit is that He brings to our remembrance what the word of God says.  He also quickens us to witness to others and He gives us an opening to share the truth of the message of Christ.  Without the Holy Spirit, we are like a man who is away from the mirror, and we forget what the word of God says.

On the other hand, verse 25 says the one who looks at God’s word, the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, shall become an effectual doer who is blessed in all he does.  I love the word “effectual” there.  It means “able to produce a desired effect.”  In other words, when you share the Gospel, are you effective?  Do you share the word with love?  Are you humble in spirit, or do you have a holier than thou, Pharisee spirit?  An effectual doer produces the desired effect on unbelievers, giving them pause and creating a desire in their hearts to know Jesus.

Closing

In closing, let us reflect on the promise of verse 25.

James 1:

25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the [law] of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.

Looking intently at the perfect law, abiding in it, and relying on the Holy Spirit to bring it to our remembrance, will help us become an effectual doer of the word, not a forgetful hearer.  Verse 25 promises we will be blessed in all we do if we become an effectual doer of the word.

To be an effectual doer, do not forget the face in the mirror because that is the face of a sinner saved by grace.  It is the face of one who depends on the power of the Holy Spirit to crucify the flesh and remember the word of God.  And it is the face of the person that Jesus commissioned to spread the Gospel.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank you for the simple wisdom of Your word.  Help us to remember the face in the mirror, and the kind of person we are in the flesh.  Help us to call upon the Holy Spirit to crucify the flesh and make us effectual doers of the word, and not forgetful hearers.  Help us to abide in the perfect law of liberty and quicken us to share the Gospel in love.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.