Reflection

 

I woke up this morning – staggered into the bathroom and looked in the mirror.

Sometimes that's enough to ruin someone’s day!  It was for me.  What I saw was hair standing on end, puffy eyes, new wrinkles where I had engaged with the pillow all night, and a semblance of my 84-year-old self.

What I saw was a reflection, a likeness, a replica of the person standing in front of the mirror.  Oh my goodness!  There was work to be done!

Nothing could change the me I saw in that mirror
 into the me I wish I'd seen.

But at least there was something I could do to help. (That’s what a hairbrush, a washcloth, cold water, face cream and of course a toothbrush were for.)

This got me to thinking about reflections.  Mirror Images – replicas – likenesses – resemblance – representation.  They all speak of basically the same thing.

So as we normally do, let’s look at a couple of scriptures.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

1 John 2:6 (NIV) Whoever says he abides in him (Jesus) 
ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Walking the way that Jesus walked?  When we read Jesus’ words, we find that He made it perfectly clear what our walk should be like. 

The sermon that Jesus gave on the mountain to His disciples (Matthew 5-7) begins with Jesus describing people as He sees them.  He calls them all blessed - those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are meek, are humble, merciful, and hunger to be righteous, and then some who are pure in heart and peacemakers.  

Then Jesus goes into the importance of the law (the teachings of God that were taught through the ages.)

Next, He elaborates on some of the commands that His people have tried to keep over the centuries.  He shows us that those commands are only helpful if we understand the bottom line – that obedience that must come from our hearts and minds, not just a thoughtless action.

Jesus is really showing us how to live as imitators of Himself.  He spends a lot of time discussing the reason people do the things they see as good. Those actions, giving to the poor and praying, etc. mean nothing when they are done to glorify ourselves.

As the sermon progresses, He speaks of reactions when you are hurt, of favoritism in your interactions. And then He speaks of the love and care His Father has for all His children.

Jesus sums it all up with the directive to build our lives on His teachings.  Build your house on THE ROCK!

Those three chapters in Matthew are enough to begin seeing whether our lives reflect the face, the walk, and the heart of our Savior.

I look into my mirror Lord,
and there looks back at me
a tarnished broken piece of art
that’s not what it should be.

If I could see
Your mirrored face
within that glass 
I’d see

all beauty strength and goodness
shining,
blazing 
back at me.

My Father, help me as I strive
to reflect your face today,
to be a mirror of Yourself
as I try to walk your way.

May kindness, love and patience shine 
in the glass that other’s view.

And my Father, God, I humbly pray 
that when I rise and greet the day 
I will reflect my Savior’s face
in ways that honor You.