Spiritual Gifts: How A Mirror Distorts Vision

Does your mirror reflect your Spiritual Gifts?
Or do you only see distorted images through a mist of past pain or the grime of unforgiveness?

When you look in the mirror, is the image looking back at you the real you? Or is the image somehow changed?

A mirror is a helpful tool, meant to reflect a person’s outward looks as they really are.

However, some mirrors don’t work the way they should. When mirrors get old, the “silver lining” behind the glass can crumble. Or sometimes, since glass is a liquid, it becomes wavy and cloudy over the years. A mirror like that distorts, and what it reflects is not the real you.

We all know the fairy tale of Snow White. And the Evil Queen who demands her mirror to declare that she is the fairest in all the land.

Somehow the evil one today wants to give that story a little twist in Christian life.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who has the greatest spiritual gifts of all?

When the topic of “using gifts and talents wisely” comes up, I look inward. Cringe. Then recall the people I admire who do all the good things. I quickly turn the mirror of my mind around, so I don’t have to see it reflect my perceived failures.

But wait.

Spiritual Gifts in the Mirror may be closer than they appear.

What defines a gift or talent?

Just because you’re not a Billy Graham or C. S. Lewis or a grandmother Lois doesn’t mean you won’t make the gifted list.

Now wait a minute.

Why do we even think of Christian life as a talent contest?

Is there anything in God’s Word, or Jesus’ words, that says we have to have a great gift to measure up in His eyes?  Does He have a Who’s Who List of Greatest Spiritual Gifts?

In the Hebrews 11 Who’s Who List, the only gift needed to be on the roll call was faith.

Comparison hampers your Spiritual Gift.

Did Noah have special boat building skills?  Did he stand out from his neighbors before he started building that mind boggling boat?  Likely not.  No doubt, he went to the shops and synagogues and blended in with the people of his day.  Graying beard, flowing robe, sandals on his feet.  Like all the men.

Only God knew Noah had a talent for faith that would carry him through the scorning of the whole world and the massive amounts of time needed to build the ark. Faith to announce a flood was coming when the sky was always sunny.

So what kind of gift did it take for Abraham to take his entire household on the road, not knowing where he was going?  I mean, road trips are good, but lug all you own, no pin on the GPS, never to return to that house again?  Not so much.  These days, people are into tiny living, and I believe you have to be fairly into it before you downsize to that extent.  I think it needed even more passion to do the Abraham thing.  Do it because God asked, start out not knowing the end result?  Yes, that takes faith.  Awesome faith.

Now we know from her line of work that Rahab probably had the gifts of beauty and an attractive personality.  But the Bible doesn’t even mention that in passing.  Instead, it tells us she was very low on the social totem pole.  Her saving gift was, wait for it… faith. Not beauty. Not charm. Faith!

Okay, so stand up to the mirror, sister.

Spiritual Gifts are inside You.

Look deep into your eyes (the eyes are the windows to the soul) and tell me you can’t have faith.  That you can’t believe in God enough to do what He asks you to do.

What does the mirror say?

Does it tell you you don’t look good enough to have faith?  Does it say your zits or wrinkles deny you the power to believe in God?

No, the “mirror” on the wall tells you the “truth.”

All persons… from all places… can have enough faith to put one foot before the other. All can look into the hearts of people instead of their looks. All can go out into the world knowing they can reflect Spiritual Gifts.

Because all it takes is faith.

The one requirement for having special talents to do great things is faith.

The only Who’s Who List that matters is God’s List of Faithful People.

And, praise God, if you’re reading this, you’re on the list.

You are a gifted, talented person.

Now look in the mirror again,
smile into your eyes,
and tell yourself you are going forth today
to reflect your Spiritual Gifts.