Daily Power #180

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24)

Did you know that the majority of what we do on social media pertains to us? Just like the latest tweet I sent. I care about my tweet way more than anyone else’s. (Jesus might have said to love other people’s tweets as you love your own, but I don’t think so. I’ll keep working on that.)

Think about the whole notion of selfies for a minute, a phenomenon that still fascinates and repulses me in equal measure, like some roadside accident on the information superhighway. I’m not even sure if the word selfie existed a decade ago. Yet in 2013, Oxford Dictionaries crowned it as their Word of the Year. Out of almost nowhere, selfies have become an obsession for so many.

Everywhere we go—the office, home, church, the gym—we’re encouraged to take a selfie. It’s almost like we have to prove that we really did brush our teeth, lift that barbell, or wash the car, so we take a selfie to prove it. We’re the selfie-proclaimed star of our own daily reality show.

Our culture says show yourself. Update your status. Pin your latest pic.

Jesus said deny yourself.

If someone looked at your Facebook page, your Instagram photos, or your most recent tweets or snaps, what would they see? Would they see a humble, others-focused, Christ-centered disciple? Or would they see something less than who Christ has called you to be?

Power Lift

Dear Lord, I know I get caught up in my own little world and focus too much on myself. Give me a soft heart willing to put others first.