Faith in Action

By Jeremy Writebol

Note: The devotional for She Reads Truth was inadvertently published on both sites. The correct He Reads Truth devotional for 7/13/23 is now below.

Let me hold up a mirror to our lives today. Actually, let’s allow God to hold the mirror up so we can look deeply at ourselves. Here’s the issue that confronts us: we act as if the mirror is a window through which we can look out onto the world and cast judgment. So we take the biblical standards and become frustrated, even angry, when our neighbors and culture violate those standards. We believe that we are in the right, so we stand with judgmental hearts of superiority against everything and everyone that is wrong in the world. 

The problem with looking at a mirror as if it is a window is that we look right through ourselves and ignore seeing the problems of our own hearts and lives. Somehow we stand at the window and shout to the world, “you’re doing it wrong!” all the while failing to see that we are just as guilty for our proud and judgmental hearts. 

But let’s lean into what Paul says, “you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things” (Romans 2:1). Do you see what Paul calls out in us? It’s not just that we judge; we, in fact, “do the same things.” Do you see yourself in the mirror? 

Have you ever found yourself assuming you are right because you go to a particular church, espouse a certain doctrinal perspective, or align with a specific political party? It’s easy to believe that as long as you have knowledge of the Bible, you’re taken care of and there’s no need to be bothered with concern for others and the judgment ahead of them. However, the mirror of God’s Word shows us something about our hearts—we’re no different, and in fact, we’re, too, deserve the righteous judgment of God. The mirror brings into focus our “unrepentant heart[s]” (v.5) and that we are due the same judgment. 

But what do you see if you look at the mirror of God’s Word?

In my life, I see a lot of work still to be done—specifically, the work of repentance and faith. We must express a turn of our hearts away from looking through a window and throwing rocks at the world around us. We need to look in the mirror, see our uncleanliness, and seek the kindness of the Lord to wash us through the finished cross-work of Christ. Take courage in Him; we can bear the fruit of faith: obedience, love, and honor to God and love towards our neighbors. 

Friend, what do you see in the mirror?