What Should Your Mirror Show?

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"WHAT SHOULD YOUR MIRROR SHOW?
James 1: 22-25

Intro:
Depending upon your level of self-esteem, looking in the mirror might, or might not, be an enjoyable experience. Regardless of whether or not you believe yourself to be attractive, my question is, what do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see a husband or wife? Do you see a mother or father? Do you see a good friend to all who know you? Do you see a faithful child of God? You know, the problem is that the mirror doesn't lie. As the old saying says, "What you see is what you get."
Well, the question, which I have for you this morning is, "What do you get?" More specifically, I want to know what kind of Christian are you seeing in that mirror? In James 1: 22-25, James speaks about the man who looks into the mirror, but corrects none of the mistakes, which he sees. In fact, James encourages us to continue to look into the perfect law of liberty, and thereby we will be blessed.
With all this in mind, we want to try to discover what type of person we need to be. In order to do this, we want to consider the words of the savior. IN Matthew 5: 33-48, we find Jesus in the midst of his Sermon on the Mount. Contained within these 15 verses, we begin to see an image of the Christians we should be.
This morning, for just a few moments, we want to consider this image, and attempt to duplicate it in our own mirrors. Join me then as we discover who it is that God would have us to be.

I FIRST, YOU SHOULD SEE AN HONEST PERSON (Mt 5: 33-37)

1. There is something interesting taking place in these verses.
A. While there were oaths taken in both the OT and NT, (Deut 10: 20, RO 1: 9), Christ is pointing out that they are unnecessary.
B. TO that individual who is honest, they don't need to add any oath to their word.
C. They don't need additional promises because they are true followers of the one true God.
2. The question then becomes, how can following God help you to be a more honest person?
A. Prov 12: 22 it is because these individuals know that, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are his delight!"
B. Titus 1: 2 also, those who follow God are striving to be like him, and they know that he DOES NOT LIE.
3. However, in our society, it is more common to lie, than to tell the truth.
A. In a June 7, 1996 article in the New York Times, it was reported that 91% of Americans surveyed admit to lying daily, and that 20% of those same individuals confess that their lies are premeditated.
B. Psa 12: 1-2 David might have been writing about our modern day world when he said, "The Godly man ceaseth," and" They speak falsehood everyone with his neighbor:"
4. Well, what do you see in your mirror of life?
A. Do you see a man or woman whose word is reliable?
B. Do you see a man or woman who has honestly kept the vows, which they once made to their spouse?
C. Do you see a child of God, who has been honestly, and without reservation, faithful to the father who saved them?

II SECOND, YOU SHOULD SEE A NONE-HOSTILE PERSON (Matt 5: 37-42)

1. Jesus here refers to one of the oldest laws known to man.
A. Hammurabi's Code, introduced by a ruler over Babylon, has been a tradition, which has been handed down from generation to generation.
B. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
C. In other words, what they do to you, you better do to them!
D. Ex 21: 23-25 in point of fact, it even became a part of the OT code of ethics.
2. In Matt 5: 37-42, Christ invites them to change their ways, and rebuke the idea of revenge.
A. Notice, he tells them they should turn the other cheek when someone strikes them.
B. This is speaking not only of physical abuse, but emotional abuse as well.
C. Jesus is telling them to turn the other cheek when someone slaps them, but also when someone insults them.
D. Isa 53: 7 if we are to emulate the savior, then we to must be silent in the face of the persecutors!
E. Luke 23: 34 we must instead learn to forgive, just as Christ did, even when others do us wrong.
3. Now this doesn't mean that we are to become doormats, but instead that we are to learn to temper the need for instant revenge.
A. "Christ said two cheeks not a dozen, two miles not a hundred, and your cloak not all your possessions." (Mark Adams)
B. The idea isn't to jump up and begin swinging; rather it is to treat hatred with love, and persecution with prayer.
C. Prov 12: 16 remember, "A fools wrath is seen at once."
D. When you look in your mirror, do you see someone who turns the other cheek, goes that extra mile, and hands over their cloak: or do you see someone who wants blood for blood?

III THIRD, YOU SHOULD SEE A PERSON WITHOUT HATRED (Matt 5: 43-48)

1. We should mention, that these men and women had heard it said, that they should hate their enemies.
A. However, they had heard this from the Pharisees, not from God.
B. Prov 25: 21 God has always instructed his children to love everyone, even those who don't love them in return.
2. Christ doesn't say, "Love your enemies, and love what they do."
A. Mk 14: 50-53 Christ loved the cowards, even if he didn't love what they did.
B. Lk 22: 60-62 Christ loved the betrayer, even if he didn't love what he did.
C. Rom 5: 8 remember, Christ even loved a sinner like you, even if he doesn't like what you do!
3. Instead, the challenge for us today is to love in spite of what has been done to us.
A. Don't let someone else's hatred become your own!
B. Don't let someone else's need to ridicule become your own!
C. Instead, live out the truth of the gospel in the way you live and love all men, even those who don't love you in return!