Sunday, September 29, 2013 

By: Brandon Bilbo

What Does Your SELFIE Look Like?

Genesis 1:27 "So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them."

Only mere months into the new decade of our lives (the 30s), my wife and I are both realizing that we are already quite detached from the "trendy" lingo of today's teenagers and college students. Possibly, we'll become re-educated when our son enters adolescence, but we'll probably be considered "uncool" if we attempt to speak like him - lol.

Recently, we began to see posts online and hear people talk about "selfies." Not knowing what a "selfie" was, we asked my sister who is a youth pastor. We learned that a "selfie" is a photo taken of yourself...either by holding your arm out to capture your image or by posing in front of a mirror.

One of the funniest "selfies" I have seen is a photo of a young guy flexing his "muscles." What he didn't realize was that the reflection of his other hand pushing up on his muscle to produce the allusion of IMPRESSIVE "muscles" could also be seen in the mirror!

People will try to elicit attention in many ways through their self-image, but until a person understands that we are all made in the image of God, that individual's "selfie" will ALWAYS be distorted.

This weekend, I had the opportunity to minister to a few hundred children and youth at an event. They all appeared to be very happy, but I could see that there were OTHER things going on deep inside by their reaction to the following question that I posed to them: "Do any of you go home at night and feel a void in your life....?"

I learned a very important thing from my experience with these young people. Individuals do not need to be the coolest or the most hip to bridge the gap between generations. Hebrews 13:8 says God is the same "yesterday, today and forever." Trends may change, but God doesn't.

I challenge you to stretch beyond what you may think you see in others. Know that the "selfie" they portray may not (and is usually not) what is really going on inside. Always be willing to see what God sees...a person with limitless potential and purpose in Him.

Dear Lord, Help me to always look beyond my limited ability to see through the facade that those who are hurting construct in order to hide their pain. My desire is to reflect Your love, gentleness and compassion in such a way that they can see what their "selfie" looks like through Your eyes!

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.