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.
How We View People
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
John 10:11–14
There was a marked difference between the way Jesus viewed people and the way His closest followers viewed them. The Lord was filled with compassion for their needs, while the disciples often viewed them as an annoyance. When thousands came to hear Jesus teach, He wanted to meet their physical as well as spiritual needs. But the disciples said, “Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat” (Mark 6:36).
The way we treat people is determined by the way we view them. And how we view them is determined by the condition of our hearts. The shepherd looks at the flock of sheep differently than a person who is hired to care for them would. That is not because the sheep behave differently for the shepherd—by their nature they are sheep. It is because of the shepherd’s heart. For us to be like Jesus, it is His heart for others that we must emulate.
The right view of others begins when we see them as God sees them. The people around us are not simply obstacles on our way to accomplishing what we have planned, even though there may be days when it feels that way. They are individuals with hopes, needs, dreams, and aspirations. Even more they are made in God’s image, and the objects of His love. We are called to love them as Jesus did.
John 10:11–14
There was a marked difference between the way Jesus viewed people and the way His closest followers viewed them. The Lord was filled with compassion for their needs, while the disciples often viewed them as an annoyance. When thousands came to hear Jesus teach, He wanted to meet their physical as well as spiritual needs. But the disciples said, “Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat” (Mark 6:36).
The way we treat people is determined by the way we view them. And how we view them is determined by the condition of our hearts. The shepherd looks at the flock of sheep differently than a person who is hired to care for them would. That is not because the sheep behave differently for the shepherd—by their nature they are sheep. It is because of the shepherd’s heart. For us to be like Jesus, it is His heart for others that we must emulate.
The right view of others begins when we see them as God sees them. The people around us are not simply obstacles on our way to accomplishing what we have planned, even though there may be days when it feels that way. They are individuals with hopes, needs, dreams, and aspirations. Even more they are made in God’s image, and the objects of His love. We are called to love them as Jesus did.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Every person we come in contact with today, even the ones whom we find difficult, are precious souls for whom Jesus died.
You Are Everywhere You Go!
by Joyce Meyer - posted July 16, 2017For 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment