What do you see when you look in the mirror?

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Let's take inventory together.
You see you right? You see that you are a human being of your specific
race. You have hair that is either black, gray, brown, red or blonde. Or
you may have opted for the bizarre in a bottle color. You may not have hair
at all. You see someone of a certain age. You see male or female. And
then there are the many variations of features that make us all unique.
That is all you can see by looking into a mirror. When you first meet
someone, it is like looking in a mirror in a way. All you see by looking at
them is what you see when you look at your own reflection in a mirror. Now
after looking at them you start to make assumptions about them based on your
knowledge of yourself. You know all that there is to know about you so you
instantly start to make some assumptions about that person you have just met
in order to start communication and understanding. In other words, you know
that there is more to that person than just what meets the eye. It is a
natural function of man to want to get to know people better. To know what
makes them tick. Not only to sum them up as potential friends, or
employees, or social interests, but as to whether or not they might be a
threat to us in some way. All of these mechanisms are built into our flesh
as a means of communication and a defense mechanism.

If we are given the common sense to do these things, why do we do them so
poorly sometimes? Some have a trusting nature and will believe anything
someone tells them without any further information. I think that it is our
basic nature to be trusting and to want to see the best in everyone. Good
people are less of a threat to everyone. The world would be a better and
easier place to live in. So we tend to overlook another persons flaws and
fill in the blanks instead of looking for what is really missing. We create
a persona for another person so that they are easier to deal with in our own
minds and lives. In fact, we really don't want to know everything about
everybody. We need just enough information to eliminate them as harmful to
us from a physical sense and no threat to us on a competitive level. And of
course it isn't always this complex. Some people that we meet are just
really open and wonderful to be around. Why do we like some people more
than others? Because some people just fulfill some basic need we have in
our lives. They just make us feel good when they are around. This is not
only on a social level, but in the work place and also in our churches.

When you go to a new church and you are greeted, it is normally by people
that have been at that church for a very long time. That comes in handy as
they can tell when a new person actually walks in the door. Within a very
brief time at your new church, you will find out three basic things almost
immediately. First, you will find out who has been a part of that church
for the longest time. They are like fine old trees with very deep roots.
They are not only rooted in their faith, but a lot of time in their
"denomination" and some will leave you with the impression that their roots
extend right through the foundation of the building itself. Secondly, you
will meet the nervous and leery member. Never really greeting you, but
gives the impression of shining a little bright light into your face and
interrogating you as to whom you are and just exactly why you came to their
church. And last but not least you will meet those that you yourself have
to approach because they are just not the type to move out of their self
appointed seats. You will find them there in the same seat, stiff and stoic
every week. There are just three more basic types. They want you to know
all their business, they know everyone else's business and they want to make
sure you know it too, or those that pretend they know everyone else's
business. Well, in all fairness there are those that have simply come to
worship and honor Jesus Christ. They may be glad to see you and may go out
to lunch with you after services, but their focus while in church is on
Jesus whether you or the others or the pastor or the praise team even show
up.

Now that you know the basics of what you see and what they see, it all seems
quite routine and boring and redundant doesn't it? Have you ever wondered
what God sees when He looks at you? You see, He doesn't just look at the
physical. He created you and knows exactly what you look like. But He sees
where no other man can see. You cannot put on an act before Him. One thing
He sees immediately is whether or not you are doing what you were created to
do. Think of this the next time you go out on a date or go to work or go to
church. You have a purpose. And that purpose is to reflect your Creator in
words, thoughts and actions. And in church, especially church, you are
there to worship and honor your King. It is not a social club for the
members. It is not to be part of a herd of cattle that is to be led by a
demanding and controlling Pastor. It is not a place to see and be seen. It
is not a place to go because of the people or your pastor or the praise
team. It is a place for all of us to assemble ourselves together to
encourage each other in our Christian walk and to give honor to our King.
It is a place to praise and worship. It is not a place to gain attention or
gain importance through a ministry or to control the congregation. It is
not a place to be seen by man, but to be seen by God. How do you know if
God is in your church? Take your eyes off yourself and each other and you
will see Him. Because He has promised us that were two or more of us are
gathered, He is there with us. (Matthew 18: 19-21 KJV) Be more concerned
what God sees in the mirror of your soul than of what you see in the mirror
on your wall......Patti