Thursday, June 05, 2008
There are lots of analogies for the Bible. It's called the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, the Word of Life, the Book of the Law, the Word of Truth, just to name a few. I especially like what the Bible compares itself to. For example, the Bible is compared to seed. Jesus told a parable about a farmer sowing seed and explained that the seed sown is the Word (Mark 4:1-20). Seeds have the potential of life in them and so it is with God's word. God's word can bring life to us.
The Bible is also compared to a sword (Hebrews 4:12). Perhaps we should think of a scalpel. The Word of God is able to remove the things in our lives that are hurting us. I've heard it said that the Bible is a sword but it has no handle. So every time you pick it up it cuts you first.
The Bible is also called a hammer in Jeremiah 23:29. Lots of images can be conjured up with that comparison. But perhaps we should think about how the word can break up the hard places in our lives.
My favorite analogy of God's word is a mirror. James 1:22-25 reads, "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."
Did you know that women look at themselves in a mirror more than men do? Did you know that people 27 years of age spend more time in front of the mirror than 60 year old people? Here's an article I found from Reuters:
"Women look at themselves in the mirror every 30 minutes on average, with men not far behind, according to a survey.
The online survey of 2,000 people was conducted in the UK by Trans- formulas beauty company.
The survey showed women check their reflection 34 times a day during an average 16-hour waking day.
They reapply their make-up 11 times a day, with 89 per cent of those questioned saying they carry a compact mirror in their handbags.
On average, males stand in front of the mirror 27 times a day.
People aged 27 are the most image conscious - they scrutinize their looks an average 52 times a day.
Over 60s check just five times a day on average."
We look into mirrors and we see reflections of our faces but the Word of God is able to let us see into our souls. We're able to see our daily lives from God's perspective. What a great comparison. As we intently look into the word of God and practice what it says, we gain freedom and God's blessing.
Yes, there is some benefit from looking into a mirror. How much more benefit is gained by looking into the Word of God and asking Him to change what we see.
Pastor Tim
The Bible is also compared to a sword (Hebrews 4:12). Perhaps we should think of a scalpel. The Word of God is able to remove the things in our lives that are hurting us. I've heard it said that the Bible is a sword but it has no handle. So every time you pick it up it cuts you first.
The Bible is also called a hammer in Jeremiah 23:29. Lots of images can be conjured up with that comparison. But perhaps we should think about how the word can break up the hard places in our lives.
My favorite analogy of God's word is a mirror. James 1:22-25 reads, "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."
Did you know that women look at themselves in a mirror more than men do? Did you know that people 27 years of age spend more time in front of the mirror than 60 year old people? Here's an article I found from Reuters:
"Women look at themselves in the mirror every 30 minutes on average, with men not far behind, according to a survey.
The online survey of 2,000 people was conducted in the UK by Trans- formulas beauty company.
The survey showed women check their reflection 34 times a day during an average 16-hour waking day.
They reapply their make-up 11 times a day, with 89 per cent of those questioned saying they carry a compact mirror in their handbags.
On average, males stand in front of the mirror 27 times a day.
People aged 27 are the most image conscious - they scrutinize their looks an average 52 times a day.
Over 60s check just five times a day on average."
We look into mirrors and we see reflections of our faces but the Word of God is able to let us see into our souls. We're able to see our daily lives from God's perspective. What a great comparison. As we intently look into the word of God and practice what it says, we gain freedom and God's blessing.
Yes, there is some benefit from looking into a mirror. How much more benefit is gained by looking into the Word of God and asking Him to change what we see.
Pastor Tim
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