Reflect and Respond

This post is by Jennifer Dixon.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall…."  Why do we put such emphasis on mirrors?  How many times a day do we check our reflection in a mirror?   When we look into a mirror, we RESPOND.  If there is a flaw that's easy to fix, we do so. Simple things like misplaced hair, or a speck of pepper in our teeth.  

Interestingly enough, we are told that we are to use God's Word as a mirror.  James 1:22-25 exhorts us to be DOERS of the Word.  People who only hear it and don't DO what it says are compared to people who look into a mirror and immediately forget what they look like.  Quite absurd…  James says that God's Word is the perfect law of liberty.  We are to persevere.  We are to use His Word as a mirror.  And we RESPOND to what His Word shows us.  Our life should be a reflection of the commandments He has given us.  

But sometimes, there are other things to REFLECT upon.  Reflection isn't just about seeing an image in a mirror.  To reflect means to think deeply or carefully about.  

A fascinating story is found in the third and fourth chapters of the book of Joshua.  Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River.  The Levitical priests carried the Ark of the Covenant; and as soon as their feet touched the waters, the river stopped flowing and all the Israelites passed on dry ground.  And God told Joshua to have a man from each tribe to gather a stone from the middle of the Jordan and place them each on the other side of the Jordan River.  God wanted a visual reminder of His goodness.  He instructed them that in the future, when their sons asked the meaning of the rocks, they would tell them how God had miraculously made a way for them and dried the Jordan River, just as He had the Red Sea. He wanted His people to reflect on His goodness EVERY time they saw that heap of stones.  They were a source of remembrance.

We can compare the Israelites seeing those stones and reflecting on God's provision to people today seeing the calendar.  When we see a new year quickly approaching, we have the opportunity to reflect.  But not just reflect; let us respond accordingly.  Let us consider the year that is quickly passing.  

There is a current popular song recorded by various artists.  Two of the lines in the song are:  "All my life You have been faithful; All my life You have been so, so good."   God is faithful.  The New Testament says more than 60 times that God is faithful.  We should be able to look at the year that is quickly passing and reflect on all the ways that God has been faithful in each of our lives over the last several months.  And God is so, so good.  We should be encouraged to reflect on the countless ways that God has been good. 

There are a few more things that we can reflect on as well.  We can reflect on God's promises and His commands.  And we can reflect inwardly also.  We need to reflect (or think deeply about) our obedience or disobedience.  And how should we respond to this reflection?  Are there things the Lord has commanded us to do but we make excuses?  It would be beneficial to reflect on our progress and our growth.  Are there areas that we need to surrender to God?  Are there acts of disobedience we need to confess and turn to obedience?

Just as the Israelites looked to the stones and remembered the Lord's faithfulness, and just like we look into a mirror and see our reflection, we need to look into the Word of God and do the same.  Reflect on His goodness, His faithfulness, His promises.   And we need to respond.  Respond with obedience and praise, with a thankful heart.  And may we reflect the Lord in how we live and love each day.

Jennifer loves being a homeschool mom to her two teenagers. She also works part time as a social worker. She enjoys spending time with her family, and writing. She hopes to one day write a children's book.

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash