Friday, January 22

Psalm 119:34-35
Give me understanding and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

Scripture tells us that God takes delight in us as his children (Zephaniah 3:17). As you begin your time with him today – remember that he delights in spending time with you and ask him to help you take delight in his word.

James 1:22-25
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.

Most of us have seen those “fun house” mirrors that distort the reflected image into grotesque and humorous proportions. These mirrors do not allow us to see ourselves accurately. James tells us that God’s word is a mirror that will always show us who we really are – no distortions, just the truth. Sometimes that truth is that we are dearly loved by God and that he takes great delight in us! Sometimes that truth is that we have been disobedient to his word and need to repent and seek his forgiveness. The key is to “look intently into the perfect law” and to then do what it says!

Have you allowed God’s word to examine your heart; your attitudes, relationships, words and behaviors? Are you willing to see yourself as God sees you – as both dearly loved – AND in need of his continuing grace in your life? Ask him to show you where you may have a distorted view of yourself – and allow him to make the changes he may want to make.

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