The selfie. A picture of oneself, taken by oneself. Or what artists of ages past would call a “self-portrait.”
There are selfie sticks to aid the quest for the perfect selfie, or the more difficult version the “groupie,” and now the iPhone automatically sorts any selfies into a separate album. There’s even a song about it.
But with all this attention focused inward, do we really see what needs changing? The words of James 1 come to mind…
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25 (NIV)
We snap selfies all day long of our outward appearance, but what would a selfie of our soul reveal? Do we take the time to see what needs shoring up, or do we glance at the hastily taken picture and shrug away any twinge of our conscience?
The Lord has been kind, yet relentless in bringing me back to certain parts of my heart that need God’s Word. I’ve been stubborn, but I can’t ignore his correction. I have to daily look at the Word, and see where I need to adjust myself. It’s not enough to journal or blog about it, I have to actually do it. So the next time you snap a selfie, think of your spirit. What needs to change?
