Reflections

How Fathers, Priests, and All Believers Are Called to Reflect and Be Renewed by God’s Word
Father’s Day Message • June 15

📖 Exodus 30:17–30, Exodus 38:8, and James 1:22–25

God commanded Moses to place a bronze laver—a basin for washing—between the tabernacle and the altar. This laver, according to Exodus 38:8, was made from the polished mirrors of the women who assembled at the tabernacle. It was not only for washing but for reflecting. This place of ritual cleansing was a sacred mirror for the priests to examine their condition before stepping into God’s presence. If they did not wash—they would die.

This was not about atonement. That took place at the brazen altar where sacrifices were made. The laver symbolized sanctification, not salvation. It was daily. It was continuous. And it was reflective—literally and spiritually.

Now fast forward to the New Testament. James writes in James 1:22–25 that looking into God’s Word is like looking into a mirror. Some people see their reflection and walk away unchanged. Others look deeply and obey—cleansing their lives with the truth they see.

🧼 The Bronze Laver: Daily Cleansing for Priests

Exodus 30:17–21 tells us that Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet at the laver every time they approached the altar or entered the tabernacle. This cleansing was not optional. It was life-preserving. The command even says, “that they die not.”

This is sanctification: not a one-time event but a daily washing. The same is true for us. Jesus has fulfilled the sacrificial system once and for all. But the daily washing—the constant reflection, the ongoing cleansing—still belongs to every believer. We are priests unto God (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6).

Solomon’s Temple later had ten massive lavers (see 1 Kings 7:27). The focus isn’t their size but their purpose: continual washing in the context of continual sacrifice.

🪞 Mirrors and the Word: The Inner Reflection

The laver was made from mirrors. Women gave up their polished metal mirrors, symbols of vanity, to build a vessel of cleansing and reflection. What a picture!

Today, God’s Word is our polished brass mirror. It does not distort—it reveals. It shows every stain, every blemish, and every flaw. But it does more than expose. It offers a way to be cleansed. It does not just reveal the dirt—it brings the water to wash it away.

James 1:22–25 warns of dangerous reflections: when we see the truth about ourselves and do nothing. That’s self-deception. The Word of God is not just a mirror—it is a laver. It reflects and it cleans.

💧 Jesus and the Washing of the Word

In John 13:5–10, Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. Peter objects, and Jesus tells him, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Peter then says, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus replies, “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.” This parallels the laver. Once saved, we still need daily cleansing.

Ephesians 5:26 speaks of Christ sanctifying the church by “the washing of water by the word.” We are continually sanctified, cleaned by our time in the Word. The reflection corrects, the water cleanses.

🧍‍♂️ Daily Discipline of the Doer

Martin Luther once said, “The world does not need a definition of religion as much as it needs a demonstration.” What does it mean to be a doer?

It means confession: Agreeing with God about our sin.
It means correction: Applying what is revealed to our lives.
It means continuation: Remaining steadfast beside the Word, abiding in the truth.

We don’t look in the mirror once and walk away. We look again and again, and we wash. We submit. We grow.

👀 Dangerous Reflections We Must Confront

🫥 Self-image: James 1:23 emphasizes six personal pronouns in one sentence. The man sees himself, thinks about himself, and walks away unchanged. This is the danger of looking only at externals. God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
😎 Conceited look: Romans 12:3 warns against thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought. Pride, the original sin of Satan, arises when we admire ourselves instead of humbling ourselves.
🎭 Self-deceptive look: We put on spiritual makeup and masks, refusing to see ourselves as we really are. Bishop Brownrig wrote: “To deceive is bad, to deceive yourselves is worse, to deceive yourselves about your souls is worst of all.”
🚪 Selfish disobedience: The man sees truth and simply walks away. He returns to his daily life and forgets the eternal calling God has placed on him.
❌ Self-dismissive: He forgets who he is—a chosen one, a royal priesthood, loved and redeemed. He sees the image of God and shrugs it off.

Even worse than forgetting is rejecting. We may see truth in the mirror and say, “I don’t care.” That is rebellion. It dishonors the Savior who gave His life to cleanse us.

💫 Divine Reflections We Must Embrace

🙏 A doer confesses: He agrees with what the Word reveals and repents. He doesn’t just acknowledge his flaws—he seeks to change.
🔍 He studies the image: He doesn’t just see himself—he sees Christ. He gazes into the “perfect law of liberty.”
🛐 He corrects: He applies what he sees. He becomes a doer of the work, not a forgetful hearer (1 John 1:9–10).
📌 He continues: “Parameno” – He abides. He remains close beside the Word. He sticks with it, walks in it, meditates on it, and grows through it.

“The world does not need a definition of religion as much as it needs a demonstration.” —Martin Luther

💍 Reflecting on Marriage and Family

The image of reflection is not just for individual growth. It extends to our families. Our wives, our children—they often reflect the climate we set as spiritual leaders.

Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church…” If your wife seems anxious, cold, or disconnected, you might not need to “fix her”—you may need to clean your mirror.

What does your family see reflected in you? Are you modeling the compassion of Christ, the humility of a servant, and the boldness of a priest?

📸 Fatherhood and the Mirror

On Father’s Day, we remember that being a father is more than being a provider. It is about being a reflector. Our children often mirror what they see in us.

🔹 Eli was a priest who saw sin in his sons but did not confront it. He knew truth but didn’t apply it. His reflection became his regret.

🔹 The father of the prodigal was consistent, gracious, and ready. Even when his son rebelled, his example remained steady. When the boy came home, he saw a father who looked like God.

We don’t control how our children turn out. But we do control what kind of mirror they’re looking into as they grow.

📖 Final Reflection

The laver made of mirrors. The Word of God as a mirror. The example of a father. The discipline of a priest. The image of Christ.

⚠️ Eli looked and did not act.
❤️ The prodigal’s father looked and never gave up.
🌟 Jesus is the perfect reflection of the Father.

Today, ask yourself:

🧽 What does the mirror of God’s Word show in me today?
🛡️ Am I washing daily or walking away from truth?
👣 Am I walking in the reflection of Christ—or just admiring it from a distance?

📜 Final Scripture

Joshua 24:15: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

🙏 Closing Prayer

“Father, cleanse us in Your Word. Show us what we truly are—and what You are making us to be. Let us reflect Your image to our families and the world. May we never walk away from truth but walk deeper into it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”