Undoubtedly you have more than once looked at yourself in a mirror. Probably in the morning, before going to work or beginning the day, you wash, shave, groom, and take one last look before continuing on. You give yourself a solid, appraising glance and feel confident to face the day. Some people spend very little time in front of a mirror; others have the habit of admiring themselves at length. You know how it goes.

We read here about the first group; those who take a quick look, are easily satisfied, and do not worry much about their outward appearance. James compares such a person to someone who is a hearer but not a doer of the Word. And this is a rather remarkable comparison.

There are people who listen to the Word of God every day. They read it, for example, at the supper table in daily devotions, and they hear it every Sunday preached to them in church. The Word is a regular part of their daily routine, just as the mirror is, and they would not think of passing it by. But now the point of the comparison: they do not really spend very much time with the Word of God or reflect on it in depth. They feel that someone is born with a certain face which cannot really be changed. They spend a few brief and compulsory moments with the Word of God, and then quickly move on to other, more important things. The Word does not really make an impression on them. They are as they are, with a set pattern of life which will not admit to any change. Customarily they take a peek into the mirror of the Word, and then hastily proceed to the order of the day.

The Word of God is compared here to a mirror. Why? Because the Word of God gives us a clear picture of who and how we are! In a mirror we see “our natural face” (v. 23). But in the Scriptures we also see our true nature; we are confronted with our sinfulness and sins. The same Word shows us where and how we are to be changed by faith and repentance. So, in the Word of God, as in a mirror, we see a true reflection of ourselves. Even more than in a mirror, in the Word of God we do not get a distorted, but an accurate picture of ourselves. For the Word does not lie.

But, just as there are those who hardly bother to look in the mirror to check their appearance, so there are those who have wrongly accustomed themselves to the Word of God. They cast a fleeting glance upon their sinful life, and may even detect a few wrinkles here and there, but they are easily reassured in themselves. The Scriptural portrait of their sinfulness does not impress them anymore – they've heard it so often – and their sins do not bother them very much. The daily reading of the Word of God becomes a mechanical activity without real effect. So they are still “hearers,” but no longer “doers” of the Word.

Perhaps you know that people who have never had a mirror and who for the first time look in one, get quite a scare when they are confronted with themselves. There are stories about natives who fled in fright when traders gave them small mirrors as presents or barter. These natives were at first scared of their own image, but with amazement they would come back to look at the mirror again. Soon these mirrors became prized possessions, and the natives would admire themselves for hours on end. After a while, however, they became accustomed to them, and the mirror became a devaluated commodity.

How do we look at ourselves in the mirror of God's Word? Are we satisfied with a quick, superficial glance, or do we really take a long, hard look at ourselves? Do we truly listen when the Word of God opens up our lives and shows us our sins? Do we then resolve to change our life in accordance with God's will, or do we shrug our shoulders and just continue as we were doing? How often do we on Sundays admit that we heard a good sermon and yet have no intention of carrying out the Word that was preached? A “hearer” merely listens; a “doer” always acts.

We should never get used to the real picture of our sinfulness which the Word of God gives us. Or to say it differently, we should never make a compromise with our sinful nature. But we should take a good look at ourselves every day in the true mirror of God's holy Word. We should never forget our “real face” shown to us in the Scriptures.

We have two kinds of mirrors at home. One is found in the bathroom, bedroom or hall. We do not have to spend so much time looking at that mirror. But we must take time for the other mirror, the Word of God, and look closely at our life as reflected in the Scriptures. Otherwise we might get and give a wrong impression of ourselves. We might forget what we must be in Christ Jesus. We should not use false make-up to hide our sins, but we must confess our sins sincerely before God, repent every day from the heart, and seek renewal of life.

There is a danger that we who grow up with the Word of God become accustomed to it in the wrong way. That we who know of our sinfulness, start to live with our sins. We can easily flatter ourselves with a false image, by thinking little of our sins and highly of ourselves, forgetting who we really are.

The great danger here is: if we do not see ourselves for what we really are in the mirror of God's Word, we will not see the wondrous grace which God has shown us in Jesus Christ. Whoever does not see his sins, also has no eye for his Saviour. Whoever does not see his own weakness, will not pray for the Spirit of God.

Our manner of going about with the Word of God determines our whole life as children of God.