“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross …” Hebrews 12:2
I believe there is something on the inside of each one of us that tells us that we have value and significance. It’s a knowing that causes us to search for answers to questions about who we are. It’s only natural that we would look to the world we live in for an idea of our purpose and how we fit in it. It’s understandable that we would look to the people around us for a reflection of our worth. After all, the world and the people in it are where we get our experiences. It’s how we learn; it’s how we relate. However, we are spiritual beings, created by a spiritual God, and the only way we will truly comprehend our worth is by knowing Him.
Too often we get absorbed in the world we’re in, even as Christians. We find a sense of significance from accomplishments we achieve, adulations we receive, positions we attain, and influential people we associate with. We feel wanted by the love of a person we admire. We feel complete when we have the love of a family. These feelings can be genuine, but our sense of worth cannot be fully satisfied by anyone other than God.
What if someone fails us, leaves us, betrays us, or rejects us? What if someone uses us, manipulates us, or abuses us? What if an employer doesn’t hire us or promote us? What if we aren’t the biggest or the best? What if we’re replaced? What if we’re forgotten? People do not define who we are. Careers and accomplishments do not determine our value. Our worth and our purpose come from God alone.
When we were far from God, we knew heartache. We knew what it felt like to fail. We knew what it was like to feel hurt, loss, and lack. Even though we may have questioned our own worth, God has always considered us to be deeply loved and highly cherished. Even after our salvation when we’ve made wrong choices or struggled with our imperfections, our value to God did not change. God sent His sinless Son to reach sinful man because your worth to Him has never been based on what we’ve done, but instead, to whom we belong. If you mattered to God when His Son was hanging on a cross, then surely you matter to Him right now. God is a Father who will fight for His children. Today you are worth restoring, renewing, healing, strengthening and forgiving. Surrender to His love and receive it. You are worth it!
Application: If you do not grasp the value that God has placed on your life, then it will be difficult for you to receive anything from God. Believe it! Receive it! Let God do what He wants to do in you and through you.