I’m sure most people are familiar with the Michael Jackson song “Man in the Mirror.” The song is about making the world a better place by each person looking at his or herself in the mirror and making a change. That’s exactly what I want to do with this blog. Not write about my innermost sins, but take the parts of my life I want to improve and use God’s Word and other resources to make a change.

One question we have to ask when looking in the mirror is whose character do we ultimately want to see reflected in us? The answer of course is Jesus Christ’s. It’s not enough for us to rely on our own judgment and compare ourselves to our peers (Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25). We want to see Christ’s character in our lives, and for others to see Him in our lives (Matthew 5:16).

We are blessed to have Christ’s example and instruction laid out for us in the Bible. Matthew 5-7 is a great section of scripture to review on a regular basis to help keep our goal in mind. I believe that Matthew 5:3-9 (the Beatitudes) is especially important, though perhaps overwhelming to try to apply all at once. We should take time to meditate on Christ’s words and actions as well as God’s law when examining ourselves.

On a much deeper level than what Michael Jackson sang about, God instructs us to look at ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5, and many other scriptures. But we don’t have to do it alone. In fact, we can’t do it alone. In Psalms, it says “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart” (Psalms 26:2). God will help us if we truly seek His direction. He wants us to be perfect and with His help, we will be. “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).