What am I Worth? Pt. 3 – What God Says

4-1-18

Happy Resurrection Sunday! I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend remembering the best demonstration of love that has ever been given.

This week let’s talk about what God says we are worth. We’ve thought about what other people say and what we say we are worth. The problem is, both of those viewpoints are flawed. So let’s look at what we’re really worth.

When we meet someone new, what makes the first impression we have? Maybe what they’re doing at the time or something about their personality. But usually, don’t we notice what they look like? That’s what Samuel did when God sent him to anoint the next king and he saw the baby of the family, David.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:6

To a degree, we can learn something about people from their appearance. It’s one of the ways we choose to show ourselves to the world. But if someone met me for the first time today, they might wonder why I’m wearing so much black on Easter. In my case, it’s because I found my black dress shoes and I had a sweater to match since it’s chilly. So I’m not actually trying to make an anti-Easter statement.

God sees us for our potential. The kind of love He has for us, agape, means to see the worth in someone and want the best for them. He showed this love in an amazing way when He shared Jesus for us.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

When we’re Christians, it’s not just us that God sees. He sees us through Christ. So our bad is taken away, and for Jesus’ sake, God sees righteousness.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

As Christians, we get a chance to start over. We get to be new people and leave whatever is in our past behind. Becoming one of God’s children means we can try again to be the best version of ourselves with the greatest Encourager there is.

Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. – Luke 12:6-7

God sees each one of us and knows everything about us. He knows what we’re good at and what we just can’t seem to get right. He knows when we have a day that nothing works and we just want to hide under a blanket. And He still loves us.

God says we are worth being loved. We’re worth getting to know and being helped. We’re worth His attention and care. We’re worth a Savior and a forever home as His adopted kids in Heaven.

God says you are worth it. All of it. Always.

May the Lord bless and keep you,

Heather

What am I Worth? Pt. 2 – What I Say

3-25-18

What do you think you are worth? Last time we talked about how other people look at us, and it’s not always flattering. This week let’s think about how we define our own self-worth.

I struggle with feeling like I’m not good enough. It’s easy to compare ourselves to friends at school, people we work with, or our church family. We’ll always be able to find someone who is smarter or prettier or better at being a Christian than us. Most of the time, if we’re looking at people the wrong way, we can find somebody who we think isn’t as good or fun to be around as us. But is looking down on other people a healthy way to build our self-esteem?

Humility isn’t exactly in fashion today, but it’s so important.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. – Romans 7:18-19

On our own, we aren’t good. We’re human, we mess up, and it’s that way for everybody. When we do what’s right that’s because of God – directly if we’re trying to live the Christian life or indirectly if we’re just trying to be moral people (because God sets the standard for morals).

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. – Romans 12:3

We need to be careful not to be conceited. It’s easy to think, “Oh, I helped somebody today. How good of me.” The problem is, even when we are doing all we can, we still couldn’t be justified under our own power to a perfect God.

How depressing is that? The good news is that even though we can’t do it on our own, God still has a plan for us.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14

God has a call for us. There is something He wants to give us, and that should make us feel pretty special.

And we are special, each of us, because He made us on purpose.

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well. – Psalms 139:13-14

God knew us before we were born, and we are special to Him.

So I shouldn’t think that I am worthless because I’m not good enough.

I shouldn’t think I am good on my own or better than anyone else.

But I can think that I am uniquely designed by God, and He will give me situations to nurture and teach me exactly when I need them. So if I don’t give up, I can become the best version of myself. God will love me then, and He loves me the way I am now.

What are some ways you keep your idea of yourself balanced?

May the Lord bless and keep you,

Heather

What am I Worth? Pt. 1 – What Other People Say

3-4-18

What do you think you’re worth? How do you decide that? There are a lot of things in life that make it easy to feel like we don’t matter. Over the next couple weeks, let’s think about whether we do matter, who we matter to, and why.Continue reading “What am I Worth? Pt. 1 – What Other People Say”