How many of us can say we truly recognize ourselves when we look in the mirror? We get older, our bodies go through changes, yes. But, I am referring to the spiritual side of things. We've all heard that the"eye is the pathway to the soul". We get up every morning, we look into the mirror while we brush our teeth, brush our hair, wash our faces and etc. Only just before we begin the rat race of life. We get off to work, grab some coffee, say hello to our co-workers and we're off!
The Word says we were created in God's own image.(Genesis 1:27-"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.") When you look in the mirror what do YOU see? Do you see a fleshly, aging body being enslaved to serve another day in the rat race or do you see the perfect creation (salvation/spiritual) God made and intended us to view ourselves as? Our spirit is eternal and will live forever, but it needs a body to dwell in, so that God's Will can be carried out. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we belong to Him from that moment on. God has a plan (task) for each of us to carry out while we are on this earth. It is up to us to accept it. And if we are truly serving Him and staying in communication with Him (prayer) we will eventually learn what that is.
It wasn't revealed to me until, I became physically disabled, to KNOW what my purpose was. I'm not saying it was God's will that this happened to me, but I know that He is using my current circumstances for the my good and His purpose (Romans 8:28-"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"). You all probably know it now, just by reading my post. But it is to encourage others that are going through really difficult times. And it's crazy, although I'm having a difficult time now, I find it peaceful to help others, we are instructed to do so in the Word (1 Thessalonians 5:11-"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing"). You never know who you will meet that day that just needed a little encouragement. And your encouraging words could be the deciding factor needed to change the way they see themselves.
Now, you may not know what God's plans are for you right away, or you might. But sometimes we are given things in stages, once we finish one, we are on to the next. This is part of our maturing process, I'm finding this out. By showing us a little at a time and completing each stage, we are proven trustworthy by God to proceed on to the next step. If God gave us the BIG picture (exam), and we had not studied for it, we would not have a clue how to handle it or what we are doing. We are to draw our strength from the Lord. This process is our schooling, in which I call, "spiritual continual education". As long as we are on this planet, we will be always be learning and this causes us to grow in our relationship with the Lord.
So you see, when we look in the mirror, God wants us to see us in His Image; His Creation. The more time we spend with our Heavenly Father, the more we act like Him and LOVE people. Let me say this, it's important to love and care for yourself because this dictates our love and care for others. It's hard to love someone else when you don't love or care for yourself.
Little by little, the more time I spend with God, the better I start to like me and see the potential He created me for. And I can't do this if I'm self-loathing and treating others wrongly. We are called to sincerely love (action word) unconditionally (1 Corinthians 13:4-7-"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.")
The more time we are willing to spend with our Creator, the more we will want to emulate Him. This resulting in the reflection of the image of our Heavenly Father when we see ourselves. So, I leave you with a thought: How do you view yourself? And others?
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