Biblical Resources for Everyday Life
What we believe about ourselves profoundly shapes what we do, how we feel, and how we relate to others and to God. When we doubt our own worth (or the worth of others) we end up handcuffed to condemnation, shame, and self-consciousness. The reality of our unsavory thoughts and behaviors seems to firmly contradict God’s words about worth and newness and glory. These posts are intended to help you understand and hold on to God’s view of the people He has made.
Do you ever try to boost your self-esteem? Of course you do – we all do – typically by comparing ourselves with others. I recommend against such comparisons, and so does the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:12. What’s wrong with this practice? Several things.
Hypocrisy is acting like what you aren’t, The phony biblical Pharisees looked good and hid their evil hearts. Christians are phony in a different way. When a Christian sins they look bad and obscure their newly good hearts. For a Christian, sin is hypocrisy.
Self-esteem is what we think we’re worth. Self-worth is what we’re actually worth. The two don’t always match. Our estimate of our worth may have nothing to do with reality.
I’m sitting in my parked car overlooking the Pacific listening, not to the thunder of waves, but to the message of Mike Weaver’s heart-piercing song, Redeemed. I listen and I write. I’ve put the CD player on “Repeat” to let the words sink deep. Redeemed. New. Free. I listen to the words over and over. Thirty times … fifty times. I need these words. Redeemed. New. Free. Free from who I used to be. Free to live differently from how I used to live. Free to personally access the richness Jesus brings.
Read moreOne August several years ago, seven football greats came to a microphone in Canton, Ohio to accept their induction into the in the National Football League Hall of Fame. Two of the speeches fascinated me. Both speakers had worked hard to achieve excellence – and both triumphed – yet their motivations could not have been more different: one highlighted his fear of failing; the other highlighted his faith.
Read moreI’m sad. Not angry, not scared, just sad – sad for all that’s lost when we use gender to define who we are. It brings tears to my eyes. Gender identity is such a limiting concept.
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