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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for January 13, 2009
“The Skinny Mirror”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
I picked out a handful of shirts and went to the fitting room.
I put one on, looked in the mirror and said, “Whoa, that’s a nice looking shirt.”
I went for the side view and it looked good, too.
Too good.
I checked some other angles and, you know, I’d heard of this before, but there it was, right before my eyes.
A skinny mirror.
Oh I looked tall and lean. I think it even threw in a tan and biceps.
The mirror was not telling the truth, but it sure made me feel good.
A skinny mirror might sound like a good thing, but it isn’t.
Now listen to this. If it’s not true, it’s not good.
Here’s a great quote from Thomas Watson in the 1600’s. He said, “The best mirror is not that which is most gilded, but that which shows the truest face.”
A mirror that is not true will cause you to take incorrect action.
A skinny mirror might cause you to buy clothes that actually aren’t that flattering.
A fat mirror might cause you to starve yourself.
Only a true mirror leads to correct action.
This applies to non-literal mirrors as well.
James 1 talks about the Word of God as a mirror. But it’s definitely not a skinny mirror.
If you’re fat, the Word says, “You’re fat.”
If you’re corrupt, the Word says, “You’re corrupt.”
Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God “penetrates.” It “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
But here’s the thing. We don’t want our thoughts and attitudes judged. Who wants to be judged? Just leave me alone. I’m okay, you’re okay – okay?
Since we don’t want to be judged, we look for mirrors that don’t judge us.
And what we end up with are skinny mirrors.
Take my reading materials, for example. James 1:21 says that “moral filth” is “prevalent.” That means it’s likely that I have some moral filth on me. So will my reading materials reflect back that moral filth so I can see it? Or do I read things that don’t really reflect much moral filth, if there even is such a thing?
See, reading material is a mirror. The question is, is it a true mirror? Does it accurately reflect back to me the truth about my life?
You know what? A lot of lives are messed up because something is broken and they take incorrect action to fix it. And they do that because the mirror they are looking at is untrue.
So what is your mirror? What are you using to see your life reflected back to you? Hollywood magazines? Sports Illustrated? Vanity Fair? You’ll see your reflection in these, but is it a true reflection?
No, the true reflection comes from looking intently into the Word of God. Then we will know the truth. Then we can make wise decisions. Then we can take proper action.
So much in this world is just a skinny mirror.
What we need is more of the true mirror, the true reflection that comes from the penetrating Word of God
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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