How do we define our worth as individuals? What does God’s Word say about how we should view ourselves? Do we view ourselves based on God’s truth? Or do we see ourselves as others define us? Understanding our value in God is a key component of a worldview based on God’s Truths in His Word. All scripture passages are from Berean Standard Bible available at https://biblehub.com/bsb. Images created using Night Cafe Studio and Canva Pro.
This post’s purpose is to encourage anyone who is struggling with accepting themselves and finding themselves through God’s love and redemption.
Our Heavenly Father finds great joy when the lost embrace His forgiveness and grace! As He is Light, let us share His truth, love, and hope for the lost ones among us!
Different Views
American, contemporary society promotes the ideas of self-reliance, independence and the “everyone is special” mantra. Is everyone special? How do we define and view ourselves with truth and humility?
Our self-worth is too often based on what other people tell us about ourselves.
The one, true authority on our self-worth is Jesus Christ, and since He gave His own life up for us by dying on a cross, that should tell us just how valuable we really are.
Got Questions “Self-Worth” accessed 1/4/2024
As someone who has experienced setbacks in life, am we defined by these failures? Are we valuable based what we can do, how much we have, or how well we present ourselves? John gives us a sense of how to properly value self in relation to Christ’s atonement.
Jesus shows us the way to His Father!
Have you received Christ?
John 1:9-13 emphasis mine
9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
The believer who receives Christ is born of God. Society values people based on outward traits or other social status. But is that how God views those whom He has created? Is each person a reflection of God’s image?
Each person is created in God’s image and given life that he or she may come to know Christ and experience His love, grace, and redemption! Is life just a random accident?
Image of creation: imagine how beautiful it was as God spoke all the many wonders of our universe into being!
Why did God create humans? What is our purpose?
God created us for a purpose, but that purpose will look different for every person because we are each unique.
To be created in the image of God means that we were created to be mirrors of God’s glory—one-of-a-kind mirrors that reflect the diverse aspects of His nature.
A mirror serves no other purpose than to reflect something else.
Got Questions “Why did God create me?” accessed 1/4/2024
https://www.gotquestions.org/why-did-God-create-me.html
Paul explains the “why” God created all things in Colossians 1:15-16
15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
The Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe, chooses us individually and then creates us exactly as He wants us to be.
Scripture is clear that every human being was created by God for His pleasure and His purpose
Ibid.
God made us to reflect His nature! We are uniquely and wonderfully made as individuals to shine forth His presence. You are valuable! When we falter and limp with our weaknesses,and imperfections we still reflect the light of His grace as Holy Spirit works through our lives!
The Father waits for His sons and daughters as they exit the dark valley.
Value as a New Creature in Christ!
We become new creatures in Christ as He redeems us. I examine the new creature concept in this post:
The New Creature
Uniquely redeemed and remade!
Neither did God simply clean up our old nature; He created something entirely fresh and unique.
The new creation is completely new, brought about from nothing, just as the whole universe was created by God ex nihilo, from nothing.
Only the Creator could accomplish such a feat.
Got Questions, “What does it mean that a Christian is a New Creation 2 Corinthians 5:17” accessed 1/4/22024
Our value is apparent the work of Christ. Simply stated, our value and worth comes from His work to redeem us. Our worth is found in Him not our talents, or bank accounts. We are born of God, given a new nature created in us by God’s grace!
Our Redemption: His Display of Grace
Ephesians 2
4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
The Redeemed of Christ are His workmanship! His grace will shine through us as His kindness works in our lives. He has prepared good works for us! He saves us for a purpose greater than ourselves! His purpose is greater than our earthly lives and the value that world places on us.
No one is beyond redemption! God’s grace exceeds all our sins.
Conclusion: Proper Self-Image
Summary statements with references:
Our self-image should not be inflated by human pride (Philippians 2:3–4) nor devastated by the reality of sin.
Right self-image is having humility in the sight of God (1 Peter 5:6–11; James 4:4–10).
Right self-image is understanding our great need for God and His great love for us.
It is rejoicing in His truth and living aware of our value to Him and our identity in Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:6–7; Romans 8:14–17).
Got Questions “What Does the Bible say about self-image” accessed 1/4/2024
For additional reading/study
https://www.gotquestions.org/self-worth.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/self-image.html
Words of Grace & Hope 