HEAVENSREEF

Do you ever notice reflections of nature in water or in ponds or even your own reflection in a mirror?  In the dictionary, the word reflection has a few meanings, but the one I am after is this one: an image given back by a reflecting surface.

A few years ago when we moved, I found in a box a small hand-held mirror with the imprint on the back that said: NELL’S Beauty Shop.  Nell was my sweet mother’s name and she had her own business for cutting and styling hair.  She worked long hours and stood on her feet all day because she was the only one taking clients.  It was just her own business and she loved it.

When I found the mirror, my first thought was this:  if my Mom who has been gone many years now,  could see my reflection in the mirror I wonder what she would think about me? 

Shouldn’t we wonder in the same way, what JESUS thinks about us?

ARE WE A REFLECTION OF HIM?

Is my soul a reflection of my LORD?  Do I reflect HIS light back into a dark world? If the world sees that light reflection, will they see HIS glory and give praise to HIM?

 

Oh to be HIS light in this world!  Isn’t that what the world needs right now in this present darkness we are in?  Do our hearts reflect HIS heart?

OUR HEARTS WERE DARK BEFORE WE KNEW THE LORD…..NOW OUR HEARTS REFLECT BACK TO THE WORLD THE VIRTUES OF HIS GRACE.

GOD is so good…….all the time!  But what about our behavior……are we a reflection of what we read in HIS HOLY WORD?  We want to be…….we desire to be, but our flesh does get in the way so very often!

PHILIPPIANS 4: 8-9  “FINALLY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHATEVER IS TRUE, WHATEVER IS HONORABLE, WHATEVER IS JUST, WHATEVER IS PURE, WHATEVER IF LOVELY, WHATEVER IS COMMENDABLE- IF THERE IS ANY MORAL EXCELLENCE AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING PRAISEWORTHY – DWELL ON THESE THINGS.  DO WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND RECEIVED AND HEARD FROM ME, AND SEEN IN ME, AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU.”

In HIS word and in HIS truth, the purity and holiness of it, reflects back to us.   And may all the above virtues reflect in our character back to the world.

THE MORE WE RECOGNIZE OUR SIN, THE MORE WE DESIRE TO BE CHRISTLIKE AND THEREFORE A REFLECTION OF HIM.

Our desire to be like CHRIST is to respond to our current culture in a CHRISTLIKE manner.  Our choices and responses in any given situation should reflect HIS character, not our own.

Our response in peace, joy, contentment and even happiness will reflect WHO we worship and WHO we love and hold dear.  Our faith is not on hold, but is alive and thriving even in this crisis!  We are and should be growing and we should remain steadfast and teachable.

THE MORE WE KNOW JESUS AND HIS HEART, THE MORE WE WILL BE AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF HIM.

JOHN 12: 36  “BELIEVE IN THE LIGHT WHILE YOU HAVE THE LIGHT, SO THAT YOU MAY BECOME CHILDREN OF LIGHT.”

I started this post today, then took a break to open my mail.  I found within it a challenge from a well known Pastor that was asking the question: what would JESUS do now……in 2020?  And I was asked to sign a challenge to be a reflection of HIS character and righteousness.

Oh how HIS timing is perfect!  So I am signing that challenge to be HIS reflection in every realm of my life today and in the days to come.  To be a peacemaker when there is strife.  To comfort those who need it.  To show mercy when I am falsely accused.  And to reflect HIS character in all situations all with the help of HIS SPIRIT.

It’s a great challenge to reflect CHRIST every day we live.  Our lives and our faith is not on hold right now even though the world is.  We are challenged every day to be more like JESUS and to reflect all that HE is.  Will you accept that challenge too?

1 CORINTHIANS 13: 12  “NOW WE SEE THINGS IMPERFECTLY, LIKE PUZZLING REFLECTIONS IN A MIRROR, BUT THEN WE WILL SEE EVERYTHING WITH PERFECT CLARITY.  ALL THAT I KNOW NOW IS PARTIAL AND INCOMPLETE, BUT THEN I WILL KNOW EVERYTHING COMPLETELY, JUST AS GOD NOW KNOWS ME COMPLETELY.”