Nothing like a trip to the dentist to get our attention!

The Browns were shown into the dentist's office, where Mr. Brown made it clear he was in a big hurry. "No fancy stuff, Doctor," he ordered, "No gas or needles or any of that stuff. Just pull the tooth and get it over with."

"I wish more of my patients were as stoic as you," said the dentist admiringly. "Now, which tooth is it?"

Mr. Brown turned to his wife ... "Show him, honey."

It's easy to be brave when someone else is the one experiencing the pain! I wonder as I write and speak about facing trials with a positive attitude if I could be so upbeat if I were one of many who suffered the loss of everything in the recent tsunami.

It's easy to be brave when someone else is experiencing the pain.

It's also easy to believe that someone else is the only one needing treatment. "Don't look at me, doctor. Take care of her!"

It's very easy to apply the truth of God's word to someone else and let yourself off the hook. As you sat listening to (or delivering) a sermon Sunday, did you find yourself saying, "I sure hope so-and-so is listening, because this is something he really needs to work on!"

A mirror is only used to look at yourself.
Listen to these words of James:

And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law — the law that sets you free — and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. (James 1:22-25 NLT)

James does not say that the word of God is a magnifying glass or a telescope to look at others. Rather, it is a mirror. And a mirror is only used to look at yourself.

I pray that you will take the opportunity today to use the word of God as a mirror, and may your life be changed by it.