Cornerstone

Ever thought about how you define your self worth?  

So often we consider our self worth based upon the material items, the amount in the bank, or position in a company.  The danger with these type of thoughts are: material items will wear out, bank accounts can disappear, and a job is just that; a job.

Nothing we have obtained in life was from our own doing. Os Hillman’s restated what we sometimes forget, “Scriptures tell us there is only one measure for our self worth.  Each of us has self worth because we are made in the image of God. And because we are made in the image of God, we are valuable. …You are never more valuable to God than you were the day you were born….”

 “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your Works, And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139: 13-14

Once we understand the source of our self-worth our journey really begins because we have a purpose! Paul instructed the Philippians to learn and grow in Christian faith so that we can worship Christ with our hearts, grow like Him in character, and to teach others in our world of His glory and mercy.

 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.” Philippians 4: 4-6



Cornerstone

Last night as my family and I watched the fireworks explode across the night sky, celebrating our nation’s 240 year declaring independence from the British Empire, I was thinking how a different perspective on the same event results in a decision of choice and ultimately the outcome. While we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence by our country’s forefathers, if we view it from England’s perspective the colonists were declaring war against England. The most powerful nation in terms of military and financial means at that time.  Such bravery for the colonists, and yet some thought the same acts were mad and chose to side with the Tories.  Two school of thoughts for the same subject.  James Madison and Thomas Jefferson wrote to the public of the wrongs the colonists were being subjected and eventually swayed the majority of the public to join and fight for the cause. 

 The Apostles were sent out to the world to teach the public, sure they must have talked about the wrong doings of the world and the turmoil within each man, but the true mission:  introduce Jesus, declaring that through Him, that whoever believes shall not perish but have everlasting life. People could choose to believe or choose to ignore; the same choice every person has today.  One decision, two possible outcomes. 

 For the believer, they wear the armor of God.  It is the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of truth, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God!  For those who believe, just imagine the “fireworks” our God celebrates with each person who declares their independence from the things of this world.
 
As John Eldredge writes in Wild at Heart, “the world is not a place or a set of behaviors – it is any system built by our collective sin, all our false selves coming together to reward and destroy each other.”
 
Only through Jesus Christ can we truly declare our independence.