Zephaniah 2:3 (NLT)
Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you— protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.
A few years ago, Google did a study on selfies and reported that 93 million selfies are taken every day on Android devices alone. That's a lot of photos! Our young people between the ages of 18 and 24 have at least one selfie among every three pictures on their smartphones. They also reported that some people take more than eight selfies a day!
Here's an unexpected fact that was uncovered from their study: more people die from selfies gone wrong per year than from shark attacks. One study reported that in India, there were 259 deaths from selfie related accidents between 2011 and 2017, compared to just 50 killed by sharks.
The situation has even generated its own name: “Selfiecide.”
In this new world of smart devices, we find ourselves in a “selfie paradox.” People are more focused on themselves than ever before and feel that their selfies are an honest and unique reflection of their lives. With that being said, it's reported that they usually judge other people's selfies as shallow or fake 90% of the time. It's funny how that works, isn't it?
For us as Jesus followers, here's the deeper issue: focusing too much on ourselves can knock us out of Kingdom alignment.
A few years ago, we were about to head out on a family vacation to Colorado. My truck was pulling to one side, so before we left, I took it in to see if the front end needed to be aligned. Once it was fixed, I was astonished at how much I had been battling to keep my truck on the road.
The same is true for us in Kingdom living. As we make our way through this world, we inevitably hit potholes (pride being one of the biggest), and suddenly we're out of Kingdom alignment. We find ourselves struggling to stay in line with Jesus, constantly weaving away from our Kingdom purpose. But here's the good news: God has made a way for us to get back on track through confession and repentance of our sins.
Listen to what Psalm 32:2–5 says:
How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit! When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
The truth is, we live in a world where it is becoming easier and easier to focus too much on ourselves. The tragic repercussions of “Selfiecide” are proof that our world is way too preoccupied with ourselves. We've all hit potholes of pride and selfishness in life that have thrown us for a loop. God's grace is continuously beckoning us back to realign our hearts with His Kingdom purpose. The Holy Spirit is inviting you today to a deeper, more meaningful way of living. Kingdom living is a life that is overflowing with the love of Christ, compassion towards others, and humility that will lead you to be at peace with your position in Christ Jesus.
Jesus is the ultimate example of selflessness, and the more we learn about Him and what it means to follow Him in this world, the more we understand our true identity and purpose. As you go about your week, remember: it's not about the selfie; it's about selflessness. Kingdom living is about getting over yourself and living for something eternal, authentic, and meaningful. When you find that, you’ll find the true joy and fulfillment that only God can provide. I encourage you today, my friend, to step onto the path of confession and repentance of sin, knowing that Jesus is going to realign your heart with His Kingdom and His purpose and guide you to live a life of love and service.
Align your life today with the grace of Jesus, synchronize your heart with his, and your life will be a radiant reflection of his Kingdom goodness to everyone around you.