God does not look at us and say pass or fail.
He does not look at me and say, “Oh, you made the dean’s list, so you pass.”
He doesn’t look at Pastor Jason and say, “Oh, you told too many fishing stories in your last sermon: fail.”
Let me rephrase that first sentence; God does not look at us like society does. God does not judge us as to whether we are “good enough.”
Our worth is not defined in the things of this world. Our worth is not defined like society says. Our weight, our appearance, our actions, our time spent serving at church does not add up to some grand reveal as to whether we are good enough. We have to remind ourselves that we cannot earn our way into Heaven.
So, who does God say we are?
God says, we are loved:
We love because he first loved us. —I John 4:19
God says, we are His children:
I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. —II Corinthians 6:18
God says, we are His beloved:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. —Colossians 3:12
See, nothing I do can change his love for me. Nothing you do can change his love for you. I could be at the top of my class or a college dropout, and His love for me doesn’t change.
So why is it so hard for us to see ourselves in the eyes of God?
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Therefore, we need to be constantly reminding ourselves of who God says we are. Too often, we forget that we were made by God in His image. When we do not speak life over our bodies, we are telling that to the Lord, saying, “God, why did you make me like this. God, why didn’t you make me like that?”
In doing so, we are criticizing His creation. But we don’t look at a sunset and say God this sunset is too bright, too orange, too small, too big. We are sunsets. Each one different from the next. You are the only one of you. So why do we try to look like or be like someone else?
I envy the time before there was social media. Before we had models shoved in our faces everywhere we looked. Beauty standards vapidly change over time and just when you think you’ve got the ideal body, something else in society changes.
There are so many standards in this world. Be independent, but not so much so that no one wants to date you. Be an involved parent, but do not be a helicopter parent. Do great in sports, but also be an honor roll student. Cook meals for your family, but make sure they are always healthy meals.
Why do we let societal standards dictate our lives? God says we are enough. That we are worthy and redeemed.
I love who God says I am and as I move on with my life I want to continue to have his thoughts about me in my head versus having the world’s thoughts in my head. As we dig into the Word and declare over our lives what He says is true, we can start to rewire our brains. I pray God helps every one of us unlearn who society says we should be, so we can be free to be who He says we are.
You are no longer darkness, but light in my Son. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). You are the light of the world, a city set on a hill (Matthew 5:14). I have called you (2 Peter 1:3). I have chosen you (Revelation 17:14). You are now a saint, a servant, a steward, and a soldier (Romans 1:7; Acts 26:16; 1 Peter 4:10; 2 Timothy 2:3). You are a witness and a worker (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 2:10). Through Jesus you are victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57). You have a glorious future (Romans 8:18). You are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). You are an ambassador for my Son (2 Corinthians 5:20). —John Rinehard, What God Thinks About You
Love Jesus. Love each other. Love your city.
Harvest, go be the Church!
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