Here I am, this is me, writing simply because I realized this is my blog (for heaven's sake!), and I need an outlet to vent and proclaim and process and analyse and get things out of my system as they come. If this seems to contradict the mission statement, well, its because it probably does. I get too hung up in my own perspective and forget about God's. But hopefully writing will bring things back into perspective, shedding new scriptural light on ideas, which is exactly what I hope to accomplish in life.
Going along with that thought - I've realized lately how easy it is to think I must prove myself to others. Prove myself to be worthy of their attention, of their time, of their interest, of doing and being someone they want to call friend. Its weird how wrapped up in seeking man's praise we can become. It takes me off the real, genuine, focus of life. Living to glorify, enjoy, and walk with, God.
Self worth is a crazy idea, really. Its so individualistic, so alone, so apart from everything that is happening "out there". Why would we take up this idea that we should somehow, inherently, have a worth entirely in and of ourselves? It isolates us from each other, from God. People who comfort themselves with the notion that they are worth something, for whatever abstract reason, only prolong the agony before realizing the truth - by ourselves we aren't worth anything. That's the point. And I've got nothing to prove it otherwise. All the things that entice the human race, or the human individual, into thinking otherwise are folly. Pointless. Academics, high IQ's, coolness, clothes, cars, driving skills, jobs, physical fitness, friends, activities, trendiness, movie taste, the music you listen to, the books you read, the places you've been, the ministries you volunteer at once a week...
Taken by themselves - in an effort to prove that somehow we are worthy of recognition, or in an effort to boost self-worth, even just to our own hearts - everything that makes you feel like a unique and important human being means nothing. It doesn't prove anything, or if it does, perhaps only that we are fools.
Living like this is living like the atheist who tries to justify mans humanity, his unique self worth, even though our ancestors were apes.
But - "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4
Here is our worth. My life is hidden in Christ. I don't have to prove my worth - only His. Self worth becomes a thing of the past, a freeing understanding that I am no longer bound to prove my non-existent worth to the world. To the people I want to love and care about me. I am not alone. Christ loved me enough to lay down His life that I might never, ever, be alone. That I will never know absolute rejection. That I will never have to live my life surrounded by shallow things. Treasures abound on every side.
I'm not saying there is no such thing as worth, or value to human life. I mean that as the Lord's we shouldn't feel pressured to conform to the worlds ideas about self-worth. I'm not here for that. Instead -
"As the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:12-17
Don't do things in your own name, worry about doing things in Christ's name. Prove this alone - the supreme grace and love of Christ abounding in and through you. Do not envy the treasures of the wicked. Do not chase after the fleeting joys of this life and miss out on the joy of fellowship with your Creator.
A proper first post -
