Three mirrors

Thursday January 13, 2022

Three mirrors

By the grace given to me, I say to each of you not to think too highly of yourself, but to keep your feelings modest, each according to the measure of faith that God has given him. Romans 12: 3

Three types of mirrors are used : the plane mirror which faithfully returns an image, the concave mirror which magnifies it and the convex mirror which diminishes it. This evokes three types of opinions that one can have about oneself :

- We can have an exaggerated opinion of our importance and overestimate our capacities : we look at ourselves in a mirror which magnifies our image. This is the conduct of the pretentious and the proud. They become puffed up, comparing themselves only to themselves, but they face ruin (2 Corinthians 10:12 ; Proverbs 16:18).

- We can devalue ourselves and seek to flee from responsibilities or to escape a service entrusted to us by the Lord : we look at ourselves in a convex mirror, the mirror of apologies. "How could the Lord use me in His service ? So many believers are more capable than me, more pious, better trained”. It is to see yourself very small, insignificant, unfit for service ; as much to say that the Lord was mistaken in calling us to his service. In fact, having low self-esteem is an excuse for lack of obedience or unjust thoughts.

- The third mirror is the plane mirror. It returns an image consistent with reality. Like this mirror, the Bible - if we read it, believe it and put it into practice - shows the right dimension of the children of God. It is the instrument that God uses not only to save us, but also to prevent us from wasting our lives. We discern the will of God there, and we do not believe ourselves to be unnecessary or more important than we are.

Let us be satisfied with the place God has given us in the body of Christ. Let’s accept our limitations, don’t aspire to go beyond our capabilities. But let us seek to exercise the gifts that God has granted us with humility, but also with all the strength that he provides to each one.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)