Do you remember reading that the Oxford Dictionary word of the year in 2013 was “selfie?” Do you know what a selfie is? It is a self-portrait photograph taken with a smart phone and then posted on social media. That is a selfie. The popularity of taking pictures of yourself with your smart phone has grown so much that AAA sent out a warning reminding people to not take selfies while driving. It seems that quite a few accidents have been caused by people taking their eyes off the road and focusing on themselves. Literally and metaphorically, if I spend time thinking of myself, what I want, my will, my pleasures, what I don’t have, what I can’t do, then I will end up full of selfishness, greed, complaining, grumbling, whining, broken relationships, loneliness, and despair. A bad case of the selfies can wreck your car, but getting wrapped up in yourself will wreck your life. We are chosen by God, loved by God, and challenged to live as children of God. We are to be wrapped up in Christ and not ourselves. We are called to commit our lives to glorify, honor, and praise God. We are not made to live, honor, and glorify ourselves. We exist for God. “Whatever you do,” Paul says, “in word or deed, don’t ever forget, do it all in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ.” Live your life in a way that your focus is not on lifting up your name, but in lifting up the name of Jesus Christ. If you live that way, it will change your life.
– Dr. Tim Thompson