The Selfie Struggle
Read The Daily:
Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Ephesians 5:15
You know that study they did, the one that claimed no matter who you are, when you look at a group photo, the first person you zero in on is yourself? Yeah, that’s us. The second any of us are in a photo, our brain immediately goes to, “How do I look?” It’s this weird, almost automatic thing, this ‘main character energy’ we all seem to have. We want to look good, we want to be seen, and honestly, God might have even wired us that way.
But then there’s this other side to it, right? How we can try so hard to be the main character in our own lives, controlling everything, trying to make sure we look good. It’s exhausting! It’s like that moment when you’re driving and someone’s going 48 in the left lane, and you just lose your mind because it’s not going according to *your* plan. We’re terrible saviors, aren’t we? We can’t control the world, and we definitely can’t control how fast someone else drives. Trying to be the main character, the one in charge of everything, is just a recipe for stress.
Instead of trying to orchestrate our own perfect scene, maybe the wisdom Paul talks about isn’t about being the star, but about recognizing we’re part of a much bigger story. It’s about understanding that our purpose isn’t to be the hero of our own movie, but to live wisely, making the most of every moment, not because we’re trying to prove something, but because we’re loved. It’s a shift from trying to control the narrative to simply living out the good news we’ve already received.
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Prayer for the Day
God what are you showing me? What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
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Read The New Testament In A Year
“I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God’s love. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. “You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You love sitting at the head table at church dinners, love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flattery. Frauds! You’re just like unmarked graves: People walk over that nice, grassy surface, never suspecting the rot and corruption that is six feet under.” One of the religion scholars spoke up: “Teacher, do you realize that in saying these things you’re insulting us?” He said, “Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help. “You’re hopeless! You build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed. The tombs you build are monuments to your murdering ancestors more than to the murdered prophets. That accounts for God’s Wisdom saying, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, but they’ll kill them and run them off.’ What it means is that every drop of righteous blood ever spilled from the time earth began until now,. from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was struck down between altar and sanctuary, is on your heads. Yes, it’s on the bill of this generation and this generation will pay. “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won’t go in yourself, and won’t let anyone else in either.” As soon as Jesus left the table, the religion scholars and Pharisees went into a rage. They went over and over everything he said, plotting how they could trap him in something from his own mouth. Luke 11:42-54
He was most considerate of how we felt, but his eagerness to go to you and help out with this relief offering is his own idea. We’re sending a companion along with him, someone very popular in the churches for his preaching of the Message. But there’s far more to him than popularity. He’s rock-solid trustworthy. The churches handpicked him to go with us as we travel about doing this work of sharing God’s gifts to honor God as well as we can, taking every precaution against scandal. We don’t want anyone suspecting us of taking one penny of this money for ourselves. We’re being as careful in our reputation with the public as in our reputation with God. That’s why we’re sending another trusted friend along. He’s proved his dependability many times over, and carries on as energetically as the day he started. He’s heard much about you, and liked what he’s heard–so much so that he can’t wait to get there. I don’t need to say anything further about Titus. We’ve been close associates in this work of serving you for a long time. The brothers who travel with him are delegates from churches, a real credit to Christ. Show them what you’re made of, the love I’ve been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves! 2 Corinthians 8:17-24