“Mirror, mirror on the wall” - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
James 1:23.24.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall"
My son had been playing in the garden, mixing mud pies. So occupied was he stirring away in the mud that he did not notice that he splashed his face from time to time. When it was time for him to come in for a meal, he was perturbed to be told, "Go and wash your face at once!" His reply was, "Why? It isn't dirty." There was no point in arguing; I simply picked him up and held him in front of a mirror. That proved me right decisively: the boy had no alternative but to obey.

When God says, "All have sinned" (Romans 3:23), many who are convinced of their integrity find His accusation preposterous. If only they would read the Bible! There they would learn what horrific thoughts and deeds are prevalent in the human heart, and the list is so long that everyone who is honest cannot fail to find his or her own failings in it. God's Word acts as a mirror for all mankind.

Today's scripture emphasises the need to act on the realisation of our sinfulness. If we neglect to do so, we may well forget that we are sinners. God recognises only two classes of people: sinners and the saved. To pass from the former class to the latter cleansing is necessary. God Himself provided the means of cleansing: "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7.9). By this means our self-righteousness loses all its meaning and force; we become truly righteous in God's sight.

Today's reading: Isaiah 20:1-21:17 · Acts 27:1-13