<div>Have you counted how many times you look at yourself in the mirror every day?<br /><br />When you pose for a click, don't you try to give the best looks? When your picture doesn't come out well don't you try to do some editing to stretch a smile or add a tone to your picture? You walk into a hair salon or beauty parlor and you have a choice of sample pictures that offer you 'look good opportunity'.<br /><br />Have you seen people look at themselves in a vehicles' mirror when the traffic lights go red, sometimes even with the helmets on.<br /><br />We all want to look good, decent and presentable, whether we are heading to meet someone we love, for a public appearance, an office meeting, an interview, a photo shoot, or a party.<br /><br />When we look good to our own satisfaction, we feel confident even if others may probably think otherwise.<br /><br />Jesus shares a parable of a man who entered a place of worship feeling good both from outside and within and even wanted God to know he was good enough and even better than others.<br /><br />"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector (behind me). I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."<br /><br />But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." (Luke 18:9-14)<br /><br />Jesus says, the man who beat his breast accepting his frailty and sinfulness, went home more justified than the one who had a wrong self-image.<br /><br />Masks are easily available but they can't cheat on God. When you are in a place of worship The Lord himself wants to be your mirror for "God created mankind in His own image" (Genesis 1:27) and wants you to reflect that image by your life.<br /><br />The next time you stand before a mirror, take stock. Are you reflecting the image of God in your thoughts, your words and actions?<br /><br />When you do, people will love your more. Take off the mask.<br /><br /></div>
<div>Have you counted how many times you look at yourself in the mirror every day?<br /><br />When you pose for a click, don't you try to give the best looks? When your picture doesn't come out well don't you try to do some editing to stretch a smile or add a tone to your picture? You walk into a hair salon or beauty parlor and you have a choice of sample pictures that offer you 'look good opportunity'.<br /><br />Have you seen people look at themselves in a vehicles' mirror when the traffic lights go red, sometimes even with the helmets on.<br /><br />We all want to look good, decent and presentable, whether we are heading to meet someone we love, for a public appearance, an office meeting, an interview, a photo shoot, or a party.<br /><br />When we look good to our own satisfaction, we feel confident even if others may probably think otherwise.<br /><br />Jesus shares a parable of a man who entered a place of worship feeling good both from outside and within and even wanted God to know he was good enough and even better than others.<br /><br />"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector (behind me). I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."<br /><br />But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." (Luke 18:9-14)<br /><br />Jesus says, the man who beat his breast accepting his frailty and sinfulness, went home more justified than the one who had a wrong self-image.<br /><br />Masks are easily available but they can't cheat on God. When you are in a place of worship The Lord himself wants to be your mirror for "God created mankind in His own image" (Genesis 1:27) and wants you to reflect that image by your life.<br /><br />The next time you stand before a mirror, take stock. Are you reflecting the image of God in your thoughts, your words and actions?<br /><br />When you do, people will love your more. Take off the mask.<br /><br /></div>