Mirrors and Hearers/镜子和圣经

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Dexu Xia

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Jan 3, 2019, 11:04:22 PM1/3/19

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Mirrors and Hearers

Whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it . . . will be blessed in what they do. James 1:25

When I emerged from my hotel in Kampala, Uganda, my hostess, who had come to pick me up for our seminar, looked at me with an amused grin. “What’s so funny?” I inquired. She laughed and asked, “Did you comb your hair?” It was my turn to laugh, for I had indeed forgotten to comb my hair. I’d looked at my reflection in the hotel mirror. How come I took no notice of what I saw?

In a practical analogy, James gives us a useful dimension to make our study of Scripture more beneficial. We look in the mirror to examine ourselves to see if anything needs correction—hair combed, face washed, shirt properly buttoned. Like a mirror, the Bible helps us to examine our character, attitude, thoughts, and behavior (James 1:23–24). This enables us to align our lives according to the principles of what God has revealed. We will “keep a tight rein” on our tongues (v. 26) and “look after orphans and widows” (v. 27). We will pay heed to God’s Holy Spirit within us and keep ourselves “from being polluted by the world” (v. 27).

When we look attentively into “the perfect law that gives freedom” and apply it to our lives, we will be blessed in what we do (v. 25). As we look into the mirror of Scripture, we can “humbly accept the word planted in [us]” (v. 21).

Heavenly Father, “open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18). Help me to order my life according to what You show me in Scripture.

As a mirror reflects our image, the Bible reveals our inner being.

镜子和圣经

惟有详细查看那全备、使人自由之律法的，并且时常如此，……就在他所行的事上必然得福。-雅各书1章25节

当我走出乌干达首都坎帕拉的酒店时，负责来接我去参加研讨会的姐妹一看到我，就咧着嘴笑了起来。我奇怪地问她说：“是什么事这么好笑？”她笑着问道：“你梳头了吗？”这回轮到我笑了，因为我确实忘了梳头。在酒店房间里，我明明照了镜子，但怎么会没察觉到呢？

雅各以实际类比的方式，让我们从查考圣经得着更多益处。我们照镜子时，可以检视并整理自己的服装仪容……头发梳了没，脸洗了没，衬衫的钮扣扣正了吗？圣经就像一面镜子，可以帮助我们省察自己的品行、态度、思想和行为（雅各书1章23-24节），让我们行事为人能符合上帝的教导，例如：“勒住”自己的舌头（26节）；“看顾在患难中的孤儿寡妇”（27节）；留意圣灵的感动，“保守自己不沾染世俗”（27节）。

当我们详细查看“那全备、使人自由之律法”，并切实地实践在生活中，就必因自己所作的蒙福（25节）。我们对着圣经这面镜子省察自己，就能“存温柔的心领受那所栽种的道”（21节）。

天父，求祢开我的眼睛，使我看出祢律法中的奇妙。
求祢帮助我，能按照圣经的原则管理自己的生活。