Rethink Your Self: A 5-Day PlanSample

Altered Display

Yesterday we looked at how sin causes us to resist or reject God’s design for us. Today, we’ll explore sin’s effect on what we display. 

The Bible claims our ultimate purpose is to display the awesome creativity and power of God. Since sin turns us inward, our self-display becomes a means for receiving glory for ourselves. This hunger for self-focused glory shows up differently depending on the person. Some drop hints in conversation as to their own importance, while some shy away from the limelight but quietly manipulate others’ perceptions.

In the Internet age, everywhere we turn people put themselves on display and invite feedback through comments and likes and other signals of affirmation. We can design the self we want others to see, display it, and then wait for a response in real time. Sin affects us by leading us to base our worth and value in the praise we receive from others.

The Bible’s focus isn’t on us displaying ourselves for others to see; instead, our purpose is to be a display of the image of God, that we would reflect the God who made us. This is the general understanding that unites all human beings and gives us a kind of uniqueness among all other creatures on earth. A tree may be designed to bear fruit, a squirrel may be designed to collect acorns, the sun may be designed to shine, but humans are designed to be a display for God. We bear his image. 

This is the purpose for which we were created—to praise the one who made us and to reflect his glory and power and character.

PRAY 

God, I want to embrace and live out the purpose for which I was created—to praise you and reflect your glory, power, and character. Help me to be faithful to do so. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.