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Pastors Page
Have you ever looked at your reflection in a mirror? Sure you have, we look in mirrors all the time and see
a reflection of ourselves. This is the face we think the rest of the world sees when they look at us, but we
must remember that what we see in the mirror is a “reversed” image. What people really see is something
different than we observe in a mirror. Really our physical appearance does not have a lot to do with how we
are perceived by those around us. Actions speak louder than words. James relates it this way…
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.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself
and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after
orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
(James chapter 1)
James compares the Word of God (the scriptures) to looking into a mirror and seeing your image and then
forgetting what he saw. In the days of James, mirrors were usually polished brass not the good mirrors we
have today. When they looked in them they could not see very clearly like we can today so it would be
easier to forget what you saw. However, in those days they had people who were eye witnesses to the
ministry of Jesus on the earth. Today we have the works of the New Testament to show us Jesus through
the eyes of those who were close to Him. So we have a good mirror to look into also to see the example to
follow. It is for us to remember the reflection of Christ put into these pages of God’s word.
Bob Metzger
a reflection of ourselves. This is the face we think the rest of the world sees when they look at us, but we
must remember that what we see in the mirror is a “reversed” image. What people really see is something
different than we observe in a mirror. Really our physical appearance does not have a lot to do with how we
are perceived by those around us. Actions speak louder than words. James relates it this way…
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.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself
and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after
orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
(James chapter 1)
James compares the Word of God (the scriptures) to looking into a mirror and seeing your image and then
forgetting what he saw. In the days of James, mirrors were usually polished brass not the good mirrors we
have today. When they looked in them they could not see very clearly like we can today so it would be
easier to forget what you saw. However, in those days they had people who were eye witnesses to the
ministry of Jesus on the earth. Today we have the works of the New Testament to show us Jesus through
the eyes of those who were close to Him. So we have a good mirror to look into also to see the example to
follow. It is for us to remember the reflection of Christ put into these pages of God’s word.
Bob Metzger
Mt. Hope United Methodist Church
