This book is a devotional/prayer book to direct your thoughts heavenward. Is your mind a myriad of worries? Do you sometimes have trouble going to sleep at night? Maybe you need to spend some time talking to God! For many years, I have been talking...
I love the fact that You guide me through Your Word each day and teach me things I need to know for the day ahead. Sometimes it seems like revision because I already know but other times You are showing me something new. As You drew me to read on from yesterday in Romans 12, I came upon a challenge:
"God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem." Romans 12:3 TPT
Lord, this was not a topic that anyone could speak on without Your grace and Paul indicates that this warning was only possible because of Your grace in his life. Pride is an interesting topic to talk about because on one hand it is fine to have a feeling of satisfaction in an accomplishment. It's fine to have pride in my country or a team I follow but here Paul is talking about the issue of self importance that can get completely out of hand. There is obviously a tipping point with pride when it becomes a bad thing!
Speak to me Lord as I look at myself and my pride. It's a challenge to get this right in our society where self-promotion is encouraged and actually seems necessary for survival in trying to obtain employment or a promotion. Lord in these situations, it is vital to get it right —You are talking about being honest in the way we portray ourselves. Social media has led to a great deal of self-promotion that shows anything but the real person! It really seems to be out of hand but thankfully You have guidelines for me as a Christian. As I read further into this verse, I am reminded that my faith in You is the standard I measure by. It allows me to make an honest assessment of my worth and see my true value and my associated self esteem.
Paul goes on about this topic later in the chapter, giving practical reminders to be mindful of the worth of others, just as we are of our own:
"Live happily together in a spirit of harmony, and be as mindful of another's worth as you are your own. Don't live with a lofty mind-set, thinking you are too important to serve others, but be willing to do menial tasks and identify with those who are humble minded. Don't be smug or even think for a moment that you know it all." Romans 12:16 TPT
Thank You that I can have an appropriate self esteem based on what Jesus has done on the Cross:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
It is Your grace that has saved me. My salvation does not rely on my works at all! Everything I have is because You have given it to me. You are the giver of all good gifts and all of my talents so when I succeed, I will acknowledge the source!
"This is what the Lord says: "Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT
And so I too boast only in You and what You have done in my life and continue to do as Your Holy Spirit works in and through me. I will boast of who I am because of You! I am dearly loved, I am chosen, accepted, I am forgiven —I am who You say I am —that's my true value!
Thank You for bringing this topic of my true value, to my attention today. Continue to speak to me about it throughout the day and let me remember to be honest in my self assessment and know I am worthy because of You!
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: For a closer look at who you are in Jesus, take a look at my short book:
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