Mirror
Romans 8:32 (MSG):
“If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us?”
I walked into my bathroom after a long day, ready to get into those comfy, soft, sweats. I turned on the light and grabbed a hair tie to pull my hair up and out of the way. I glanced up at the mirror to see the sight of smeared eye liner and broccoli in my teeth from lunch.
Mirrors have a powerful way of showing me the reality of my condition.
I find it funny my need for mirrors. I long to know how I look. And yet, I can loath looking in the mirror to see all the flaws and issues. I have avoided looking in the mirror because I did not like what the reality of my condition was. But it is the acknowledgement of this truth that moves me toward making a change. Maybe it’s a new hair style that frames my face better. Maybe it’s finding a new cut of jean or shirt that flatters my figure. Maybe it’s a new make up technique that highlights my beauty. Maybe its committing long term to reach my weight loss goals. But none of this would be possible if I didn’t look in the mirror and face the reality of my condition.
God’s Word, The Bible, is a mirror for my soul. I’ve struggled to study it and know it, because it just seemed like a bunch of rules and an impossible standard to live up to. Maybe you can relate to those thoughts. It wasn’t until I allowed myself to feel the heaviness of the reality of my condition that I realized what The Bible does: It reflects the truth of who I am.
In this month’s verse, we see that Paul, the author of Romans, tells us that God sent His son (Jesus) who “embraced our condition and exposing Himself to the worst.” Well, I’m not that bad, right? I’m certainly not the worst there is, right?
Mirrors have a powerful way of showing me the reality of my condition.
Paul mentions earlier in his letter to the Romans the truth of human kind:
“Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us.”
Romans 3:23-24 (MSG)
The New American Standard Version states verse 23 in a more familiar way: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
The reality of my condition is that I am a sinner. And whether my sin is big or small in the eyes of man kind, it’s all just sin in God’s eyes, which causes us to be separated from Him. That’s the reality of my condition. I am a sinner, and as Paul said it, I am “utterly incapable of living the glorious life God wills for me.”
God did it for us.
God knew, way back in Genesis 3 that we, human kind, His beloved creation, would need a savior. He knew we would need to be rescued. So, He did it for us, through His son Jesus’ death and resurrection on the Cross. And then He gave us the Bible, which is God’s Word written through man, to show us that we need a rescuer; that there is a reality of our condition that needs to be addressed. When I face this reality, I am able to do something about it.
Sometimes, facing the reality of my condition means that I need to ask for help from an expert; someone who can help address and heal the issue, such as if I had an illness or medical condition that needed surgery. When I realize that God’s love for me is so great that not only did He provide the way to rescue me, but He also provides a way to show me the reality of my condition. It is when I recognize the weight of my sin that I recognize my need for a Savior because there is no way I can fix this problem on my own. I have to go to the Expert.
The mirror of God’s Word points me to Jesus and His rescue for me, always. It is not a book of rules or impossible standards to live by to lay the guilt and shame on thick so that I become depressed and down cast. It is a mirror to show me that His love for me is so great, despite of my sin, that He has done everything to rescue me.
I need to see the reality of my condition so that I can remember the truth of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for me. It is this need that draws me to my knees, to worship Him, know Him, and to study His word. I encourage you to take some time to meditate on this, and if you haven’t heard it already, take a few moments to listen to Lauren Daigle’s song, Rescue. Let it encourage you about the reality of your condition and the reality of Jesus’ love for you.
Points to Ponder:
1. What is the reality of your current relationship with Jesus? How do you feel about it?
2. What (if anything) is stopping you from experiencing the reality of Jesus’ love and rescue for you?
3. What is the biggest challenge for you in realizing the reality of your condition? What is the easiest?
4. What is one, small, change you can implement in your relationship with Jesus to embrace His love for you even more?
Megan Sinisi absolutely adores a good cup of coffee, chocolate, and sitting with people to share life stories. She is a native to Las Vegas, born and raised, and has four beautiful children with her handsome husband, Vincenzo. She is a counselor, specializing in the field of addictions, with multiple certifications, both in Nevada and nationally. She directed Nevada’s largest treatment court and has been building her private practice since 2014, acquiring contracts with the City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson, Clark County Special Defender’s Office, and Zappos.com. It is because of her own journey of healing and through her career that she has learned the wounds we have can begin to be healed as we share our stories. She considers it an honor when someone shares their story with her, and hopes that as she shares her stories of victory and healing that others can be inspired, encouraged, and challenged. Megan has a love and fervor for writing and is walking in faith that God is calling her to use that passion and gift for His glory. She is someone who is known for her honesty and transparency that brings light to difficult situations and feelings, and offers hope and encouragement for the journey of life. It is her hope that by sharing her journey, it encourages, challenges, inspires, comforts, and most importantly, shines the light of Jesus and the reality of His love, grace, and mercy. You can find more from Megan at www.meganjsinisi.com And @meganjsinisi on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.