What's My Reflection?

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

As the water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person.
(Proverbs 27:19)

One of the best books I've read on marriage is Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas (it's actually one of the classes being offered through Life Institute this fall).  A major theme of the book is that marriage is a lot like a sin-mirror. It enables us to see our sinful behavior for what it really is so that we can change and become more like Christ.

Have you ever said something or done something, and then as you're replaying the situation over again in your mind you realize what a fool you've been when at first you might have felt justified in your behavior? And you realized that your attitude was less than Christ-like? That the way you handled yourself was an embarrassment? I sure have. More times than I'd care to recount.

The writer of Proverbs 27 (ultimately the Holy Spirit!) says that my behavior is a reflection of what's in my heart. That's a sobering thought for me. Jesus chastised the Pharisees in Matthew 12: "For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart."

What is in my heart? Is it filled with pride, envy, materialism, lust and selfish ambition? Or is it filled with peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control?

And what is my reflection? Do people see selfless love or vain conceit in my life? Do folks I work with see a life of integrity or someone that they could never trust? Do my friends see mercy or a haughty spirit of judgment? Does my family see a man of faithfulness or someone who breaks his promises?

God, we pray that our hearts would be so flooded by Your Goodness and Mercy that Your Grace and Love would overflow out of our lives to bless others and to point them to Jesus Christ! May we reflect Christ in everything that we do!