Among the many photos I have collected over the years is one of a bridge in Yosemite Falls. Actually, it is the picture of a bridge and its reflection in still waters. When viewed, it appears to become an oval with water in between two bridges. The top of the photo is the actual bridge while the reflection in the water is an exact replica of the bridge. They both seem to be the same with the water dividing them.

Reflections are an interesting part of life. One psychologist believes that children who grow up without seeing their image in mirrors are at a disadvantage. He is convinced that they are unable to develop a picture of what they look like, who they are. As a result they cannot develop their identity and become mentally healthy people. Although this argument is open to debate, what we see when we look into a mirror may be much more than an image of ourselves: it is a reflection of our heart.

“As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” Are we being encouraged to “look deep within ourselves” to discover who we are? Are we to sit and contemplate our identity? Are we to wonder who we are and where we are going without resolving the problem?

First, God’s Word presents the best picture of who we are and where we are going without His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. In Him we find our true identity. We also have the insights of those who speak on His behalf as they share His truth with us.

Prayer: Lord, may we see ourselves as You see us and change our ways and become worthy to bear Your name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 27:19 As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

Sir Michael Costa was a celebrated and successful conductor in England. He was recognized by others for the demands he placed on musicians to be accurate and to perform with excellence. In fact, many resented him for his adherence to high musical standards.

On one occasion, during a rehearsal of a large choir and orchestra, he brought the music to an abrupt stop. The musicians were puzzled until be shouted, “Where’s the piccolo? I can’t hear the piccolo.”

With all of the musicians playing as loudly as they could, and the choir singing as loudly as it could, the piccolo player thought to himself, “My instrument is so small and the sound it makes is so insignificant it won’t be missed.” But to Costa, the sound of one small instrument was essential to make the harmony needed for the concert to be complete.

Paul, writing to the church at Corinth said, “Now, all of you together are Christ’s body and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” Here we find him emphasizing the significance that each of us have, though we have our own distinctive talents and skills, that is necessary to do the work of Christ through our church and its various activities.

One of the dangers of comparing ourselves to others is that we come out looking as small as a piccolo. But remember, the Conductor needs us to play our part.

Prayer: Lord, may we each play our part in Your symphony of grace, realizing that if do not play our part, Your Kingdom will be incomplete. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Whenever pennies were made in ancient Rome, they were always stamped with the image of the emperor on them. It served as a constant reminder to those who used the coins that they were expected to honor him and obey his laws.

In the opening verses of His Word, God said, “Let us make man to be in our image, to be like us.” Moses, quoting God, said that we have the image of our God on us. And the fact that we have the image of God on us proves our unquestionable worth to God.

People frequently talk about self-worth. Often we hear of individuals who have low self-worth. Some people even describe themselves saying, “I’m really not worth very much.” This seems to come from the opinions of others who they think are important – perhaps parents, friends or teachers. That is unfortunate because they seem to struggle to find something significant about themselves that would make them feel worthwhile.

However, it is never about self-worth, it is about God-worth. Whenever we are tempted to think that we have no significance or importance, we need to remind ourselves that we were created in the image of God. And even though that image was lost in the fall, the story does not end there. A few verses later God begins to reveal His plan of redemption which demanded the death of His Son on the cross. We see our true worth to God in Christ’s cross.

Prayer: We admit, Father, that we cannot understand how much You love us. But we accept Your grace and ask that through Christ our Savior, we will see our worth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Genesis 1:26-31 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; (Read more…)

William Booth, the Founder of the Salvation Army, had a deep love for the Lord and the poor of London. In fact, the Army was founded in the slums of London in a nation that was not very kind to the poor. In fact, Booth was actually arrested for practicing charity among the poor.

During that era the needs of the poor were great and the times were difficult for all. As a result, his work grew rapidly. He was told that there was a similar need in America and decided to send some “volunteers” from his Army to America to begin their work here.

On one occasion the American Salvation Army was having a convention. Although he could not attend he was asked to send a message to the ones in attendance. He cabled one word only: “Others!”

There is a great danger when we do not think of “Others!” Paul warned about it when he wrote, “Don’t be selfish: don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.”

It is almost impossible to imagine the impact that we Christians could have on the world if we took Paul’s words to heart. Imagine with me, if you can, how different the world would be if we accepted the problems of others as though they were ours.

Prayer: Help me, Father, to accept my responsibility to be moved with compassion and act with charity to meet the needs of others who need hope and help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

A local television station sent one of its reporters to a kindergarten to interview the children. One young boy seemed to stand out above all of the other children. His energy, his enthusiasm, his excitement was very obvious.

Approaching him the reporter asked, “Do you like school?”

“Oh yes,” he replied. Then he became quiet for a moment and said, “Except for the thinking table.”

“The thinking table? What’s the thinking table?” asked the reporter.

“It’s that table over in the corner. The teacher sends us over there to make us think,” he responded.

“Think? Think about what?” continued the interviewer.

“Well,” the boy answered, “the last time I had to go there and think was after I hit Sarah. I had to go over there and think about why I hit her and why I shouldn’t have.”

Paul said that we “should think of others better than ourselves.” This does not mean that we should put ourselves down, but that we are to set aside our desires and not take advantage of others. We are to treat others with respect and common courtesy. If we did think of their needs first we would not need “thinking tables.”

Prayer: Often, Father, we think “more highly of ourselves” than we should. We ask You to convict and convince us to “let Your mind be in us.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Philippians 2:3, 4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.