A few days a week, I clean houses for other people. I never dress up for the job, I'm there to work! This morning, I was cleaning a full-length mirror sitting by a window. I knew I looked rough, but I had no idea how rough until I saw myself in that mirror. I saw wrinkles that I'm sure weren't in the mirror at home. 
I realized I could unfocus my eyes, stand slightly to the side, and clean the mirror without really seeing myself.
As I continued cleaning, I thought a lot about that moment in the mirror. How often do I treat my time with God in His Word the same way? When scripture hits a little too close to home, and I don't like how it makes me look or feel, do I just unfocus and ignore the truth? Let me answer that for you....Yes, yes I do. It's hard to see my imperfections. It's easier, more dramatic, and less personally painful to see the consequences of sin in other people.
A few hours later, Mike texted me and asked for a cute picture of me. (He actually said smoking hot.. sorry, Mike, no privacy when I'm trying to teach a point.
) I said "Such a picture doesn't exist, but ok." He said "Bull, you are the most beautiful woman in the world." (Girls, find yourself a husband who is mostly blind. It's magic!! 
)
Every last one of us are made in the image of God. We are all image bearers. And there's a common grace that comes with being His creation. We can all look in the mirror of His Word and see His overarching plan for humanity. But God wasn't willing to stop at that. He knew we wouldn't be happy with what we saw in the mirror; because of sin, we shouldn't be happy with what we see in the mirror. So He offered us His Name. Those who bear His image AND His Name have reserved for them His steadfast, loyal, stubborn, unwavering love and faithfulness.
I realized I could unfocus my eyes, stand slightly to the side, and clean the mirror without really seeing myself.
As I continued cleaning, I thought a lot about that moment in the mirror. How often do I treat my time with God in His Word the same way? When scripture hits a little too close to home, and I don't like how it makes me look or feel, do I just unfocus and ignore the truth? Let me answer that for you....Yes, yes I do. It's hard to see my imperfections. It's easier, more dramatic, and less personally painful to see the consequences of sin in other people.
A few hours later, Mike texted me and asked for a cute picture of me. (He actually said smoking hot.. sorry, Mike, no privacy when I'm trying to teach a point.
) I said "Such a picture doesn't exist, but ok." He said "Bull, you are the most beautiful woman in the world." (Girls, find yourself a husband who is mostly blind. It's magic!! )Every last one of us are made in the image of God. We are all image bearers. And there's a common grace that comes with being His creation. We can all look in the mirror of His Word and see His overarching plan for humanity. But God wasn't willing to stop at that. He knew we wouldn't be happy with what we saw in the mirror; because of sin, we shouldn't be happy with what we see in the mirror. So He offered us His Name. Those who bear His image AND His Name have reserved for them His steadfast, loyal, stubborn, unwavering love and faithfulness.
Mike thinks I'm beautiful--imperfections, old lady problems, and all--because I bear his name. He has aligned himself with me, for better or for worse, for 35 years. God thinks I'm beautiful because, when He looks at me, He sees His Son, the One who bears His Name. Jesus Christ, who so lovingly traded His life for mine, took the ugliness of my sin and replaced it with Himself. Every day He draws me closer to Himself, conforming me into His image. Not because I'm worthy, not because I am enough, not because I am beautiful, but because Jesus is all these things. I don't completely understand all of this now, but one day, I will know, as He already fully knows me!! And I will gladly focus and stand right in front of the mirror that so beautifully reflects back to me the image of Jesus, the one who loves me for better, and will not leave me at worse. I love Him.
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