The egotist, narcissist, and
others of like kind may choose to skip this article since they
have no shortage
of self-esteem anyway. However, millions of others may need some assurance that
they are important just the way they are, absent the sin issue of course.
“What are people, that you
should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often?” (Job 7:17
NLT)
“what are mere mortals that
you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?”
(Psalms 8:4 NLT)
“O LORD, what are human beings
that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?”
(Psalms 144:3 NLT)
“For in one place the
Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a
son of man that you should care for him?” (Hebrews 2:6 NLT)
God loves mankind. Read the
remainder of Hebrews, chapter two and see the extent of His great love for us.
Millions of people though are
always trying to measure up to others. It may be through financial means,
looks, status, possessions, and many other reasons. When reading the Gospels
(Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) there is one thing that quickly jumps off the
pages. Jesus loved (still does) people. It made no difference to Him if they
were illiterate, educated, religious, non-religious, respected in the
community, not respected in the community, sickly, physically detesting, etc.
Jesus has not changed one
iota.
“Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
He loves you and me, and it
doesn’t matter who we are, where we live, the color of our skin, how much money
we have or don’t have, if we’re ugly or pretty, fat or thin, bald or not, etc.
It doesn’t matter. He loves us just the way we are.
He loves us if we live in a
palace, in a prison, in an alley, or a nice suburb. He loves us if we are a
debutante, a prostitute, a financier, a beggar, a ball player, a prisoner, a
soldier, a policeman, a teacher, a janitor, etc. He loves all people, and not
just as a group. He loves you and me … INDIVIDUALLY.
“What is the price of five
sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And
the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more
valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7 NLT)
For those who feel they need
to measure up to others I ask, “Why?” God made you the way you are (excluding
the sin issue), and He loves you just the way you are. If you are a child of
God, you are a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords. If you are not a
child of God, you can be by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.
We all need to make this
thing with God very personal. He has made it personal. For example, many years
ago someone gave this illustration with John 3:16. They said to insert your own
name. I’ll use my name as an example.
“For God so loved GRANT, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that IF GRANT believeth in him GRANT should not
perish, but have everlasting life. For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn GRANT; but that GRANT through
him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) I added verse 17 to continue the thought.
Now insert your name in place
of mine. Wouldn’t this be a great method of reading some of the Bible? Of
course it would! Try it and see just how personal it gets. Don’t you think God
wrote His Word to make it personal? He most certainly did.
Granted, sometimes He is
speaking to a nation, but many times He is speaking to many different types of
people.
Two other examples:
“For GRANT has sinned, and
come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
“GRANT, Come unto me, you
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
There is no need to even
think about measuring up to other people, when the God of Heaven has made His
love for us so very personal. Regardless of whom you are and your situation in
life, God loves you and knows you personally. Even many Christians have
forgotten that.
Maybe you’re shy and have no
friends, because you don’t think you measure up to other people. Notice the
following verses.
“A man that hath friends must
shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a
brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)
That friend who is closer
than a brother is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
“And the scripture was
fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23)
Abraham was a friend of God
because he believed God, and in believing God, God clothed him with His own righteousness.
He will do the same for any of us.
If we are a child of God, we
should never be ashamed of our heritage. Let us accept ourselves for who we
are, and if there is work to be done (there always is), let God mold us into
the person He wants us to be.
The earthly things don’t
matter, and that is where we are often trying to measure up to others. Only the
spiritual will last for eternity. So, “Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2 NIV)
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
