For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
—Corinthians 5:21
What if everywhere you went, you ran into someone you didn't like? Wouldn't that be terrible? Oh no, you’d think, her again. You attend a party, and you have to endure her conversation and views. You go to church, and she’s sitting right beside you. What a bummer to have to spend so much time with this person, you think.
Then it gets worse. There she is at the dinner table with you! She’s lounging by the pool; she’s even in your bed! She’s everywhere! That sounds pretty awful, but it is the exact situation you find yourself in if you don't like yourself, because you are everywhere you go. You can't get away from yourself, even for a second, so you are in for a sad life if you dread your own company. That much is pretty obvious.
But believe it or not, even though we can all agree that it makes no sense to live your life this way, I find that most people don't like themselves. They may not even realize it, but some genuine soul-searching reveals the sad fact that they have rejected themselves and in some cases even hate themselves. I've come across a lot of people over the years, through my ministry and in day-to-day life, and I'm amazed at how few are truly at peace with themselves. Instead, they have declared war on themselves.
God wants you to love yourself, not in some wrong selfish or prideful way, but in a healthy way that truly understands how special you are to Him. As you begin to see yourself as God sees you, then not only will you love yourself, but you will have the confidence and faith to be a powerful force for good in the world.
Consider the Long Term Results
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
Luke 16:25–26
In the early 2000s, the Atlanta Public School system was being held up as an example to the nation of how to improve student performance and test scores. The school superintendent, Beverly Hall, was chosen as the national superintendent of the year in 2009. But an investigation of the test scores revealed something disturbing—a pattern of changed answers on the tests. When the investigation was complete, it was revealed that at forty-four of Atlanta’s fifty-six schools, nearly two hundred teachers and principals had worked together to erase wrong answers and replace them with correct ones so that their students would appear to be improving on the tests. Eventually eleven of those most involved were convicted and sentenced to prison for their roles in the scandal.
Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. often said, “Don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.” All of us face the temptation to do what is easy or pleasant in the moment rather than considering the long-term consequences of our choices. But those should be the most important consideration—not what feels good today, but what will produce good results in the future. Though God offers forgiveness and mercy to those who turn to Him, there are many times when that forgiveness does not undo the consequences of the choices we have already made in the past. Nothing that we do is without impact, both in our own lives and the lives of others, and we need to remember that as we make decisions.
Luke 16:25–26
In the early 2000s, the Atlanta Public School system was being held up as an example to the nation of how to improve student performance and test scores. The school superintendent, Beverly Hall, was chosen as the national superintendent of the year in 2009. But an investigation of the test scores revealed something disturbing—a pattern of changed answers on the tests. When the investigation was complete, it was revealed that at forty-four of Atlanta’s fifty-six schools, nearly two hundred teachers and principals had worked together to erase wrong answers and replace them with correct ones so that their students would appear to be improving on the tests. Eventually eleven of those most involved were convicted and sentenced to prison for their roles in the scandal.
Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. often said, “Don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.” All of us face the temptation to do what is easy or pleasant in the moment rather than considering the long-term consequences of our choices. But those should be the most important consideration—not what feels good today, but what will produce good results in the future. Though God offers forgiveness and mercy to those who turn to Him, there are many times when that forgiveness does not undo the consequences of the choices we have already made in the past. Nothing that we do is without impact, both in our own lives and the lives of others, and we need to remember that as we make decisions.
Today’s Growth Principle:
If we consider the long term in making our choices today, the future will be much more pleasant.
You Are Everywhere You Go!
by Joyce Meyer - posted July 16, 2016For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
—Corinthians 5:21
What if everywhere you went, you ran into someone you didn't like? Wouldn't that be terrible? Oh no, you’d think, her again. You attend a party, and you have to endure her conversation and views. You go to church, and she’s sitting right beside you. What a bummer to have to spend so much time with this person, you think.
Then it gets worse. There she is at the dinner table with you! She’s lounging by the pool; she’s even in your bed! She’s everywhere! That sounds pretty awful, but it is the exact situation you find yourself in if you don't like yourself, because you are everywhere you go. You can't get away from yourself, even for a second, so you are in for a sad life if you dread your own company. That much is pretty obvious.
But believe it or not, even though we can all agree that it makes no sense to live your life this way, I find that most people don't like themselves. They may not even realize it, but some genuine soul-searching reveals the sad fact that they have rejected themselves and in some cases even hate themselves. I've come across a lot of people over the years, through my ministry and in day-to-day life, and I'm amazed at how few are truly at peace with themselves. Instead, they have declared war on themselves.
God wants you to love yourself, not in some wrong selfish or prideful way, but in a healthy way that truly understands how special you are to Him. As you begin to see yourself as God sees you, then not only will you love yourself, but you will have the confidence and faith to be a powerful force for good in the world.
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