Understanding Your Worth
In Ephesians 2:4-10 we read, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show (display/ show off) the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Have you ever been guilty of trying to impress people? You try to put your best foot forward, maybe brag a little too much on yourself, try to feel the room to fit in, buy something you can’t afford to show the others you’re just like them? Let’s be honest, we’ve all been guilty of this; human nature defaults to it.
We often try this with God too. We want to show him why we are “worthy” of his love, affection, blessings, and answered prayers. But the truth is, our good works aren’t what make us worthy. Jesus said in Matthew 5:3 the very first step to entering his Kingdom is being “poor in spirit.” The Greek word used for poor in this passage is the strongest word for poor. It literally refers to the poverty of a beggar – someone who is absolutely unable to provide for himself.
Do you get the idea? Entering the Kingdom of God requires us to acknowledge we have no righteousness to bring that makes us worthy. This isn’t meant to shame us; it’s meant to free us. It removes the burden of performance from us; we don’t have to prove our worth to Christ. We don’t have to earn his blessings, mercy, or entrance into his presence. That’s the whole point of grace – you needed what you could not produce so God freely gave it to you.
Your worth is not in your goodness, your reputation, or how well you behaved yourself today. Your worth is found in the mercy of Christ alone. That is why he is proud to display you as a masterpiece for generations to come.
Our upside-down thinking often leads us to believe that hiding our brokenness is what honors God. But that doesn’t make him look good, nor does it draw others to him. To hide our brokenness and imperfections is to hide the saving power and redemptive work of our Father. For the world to see the loving kindness of the Father, they must see that he will save the “chief of sinners.” That is why our imperfections do not dishonor God; they highlight his goodness. Acknowledging your brokenness and allowing others to see that brokenness doesn’t bring reproach to the name of Christ; it highlights his merciful kindness, and that’s what compels the broken, the weak, the needy, and the outcast to follow him. Why would God be proud to show you off? Because your redemption is his masterpiece.
I pray you find peace this week knowing that you do not have to earn your Father’s favor. He is already so proud of you.
With much love,
Bryan
Have you ever been guilty of trying to impress people? You try to put your best foot forward, maybe brag a little too much on yourself, try to feel the room to fit in, buy something you can’t afford to show the others you’re just like them? Let’s be honest, we’ve all been guilty of this; human nature defaults to it.
We often try this with God too. We want to show him why we are “worthy” of his love, affection, blessings, and answered prayers. But the truth is, our good works aren’t what make us worthy. Jesus said in Matthew 5:3 the very first step to entering his Kingdom is being “poor in spirit.” The Greek word used for poor in this passage is the strongest word for poor. It literally refers to the poverty of a beggar – someone who is absolutely unable to provide for himself.
Do you get the idea? Entering the Kingdom of God requires us to acknowledge we have no righteousness to bring that makes us worthy. This isn’t meant to shame us; it’s meant to free us. It removes the burden of performance from us; we don’t have to prove our worth to Christ. We don’t have to earn his blessings, mercy, or entrance into his presence. That’s the whole point of grace – you needed what you could not produce so God freely gave it to you.
Your worth is not in your goodness, your reputation, or how well you behaved yourself today. Your worth is found in the mercy of Christ alone. That is why he is proud to display you as a masterpiece for generations to come.
Our upside-down thinking often leads us to believe that hiding our brokenness is what honors God. But that doesn’t make him look good, nor does it draw others to him. To hide our brokenness and imperfections is to hide the saving power and redemptive work of our Father. For the world to see the loving kindness of the Father, they must see that he will save the “chief of sinners.” That is why our imperfections do not dishonor God; they highlight his goodness. Acknowledging your brokenness and allowing others to see that brokenness doesn’t bring reproach to the name of Christ; it highlights his merciful kindness, and that’s what compels the broken, the weak, the needy, and the outcast to follow him. Why would God be proud to show you off? Because your redemption is his masterpiece.
I pray you find peace this week knowing that you do not have to earn your Father’s favor. He is already so proud of you.
With much love,
Bryan
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