A Righteous Self Esteem 1.21.13
There is nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself if the
“feeling” is based on self knowledge and not on some fantasy
about yourself. The question might be raised then, “How do I get
to know myself?” Scripture says, “The heart (of man) is deceit-
ful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart. I test the mind, even to give to every
man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”
(Jeremiah 17: 9-10) There is a way man may have a right view of
himself and it starts with the recognition that he is the creation of
the Lord God. We must realize we were created, originally, in His
image. He is ruler of the universe and everything in it. (Genesis
1: 25-28) We do well to consider we have failed God because of
sin. The image; plain at one time, is now marred. Sin: Transgres-
sion of the Law of God.
When we receive new birth in Christ, that image is once again
restored, but not perfectly. Christ is in us at regeneration and the
view we have of self is changed. We are able, once again, to have
fellowship with our God and begin to recover that image. We are
on a unique mission from God the Father. Each believer has a spe-
cific mission; The Lord God will supply everything we need in the
doing of this mission. Romans 8: 14-17, 26-30, 38-39. There are no
limitations in quest of the goals He has set for us, according to
Philippians 4: 13, "I can do all things through Christ which streng-
theneth me." 19. "But my God shall supply all your needs accor-
ding to His riches in glory." We have direct access to our God in
Jesus Christ, God the Son, who listens and responds to our proper,
timely requests. We can even know how and for what we must pray
as we study His Word and our will is aligned with His.
(James 4: 13-17)
Now we can feel good about ourselves, since everything we
have done wrong or may do wrong has been forgiven through the
atoning death of our Lord, Jesus Christ on the cross. (the precious
blood of Christ...1 Peter 1:17 - 23) You and I must repent of “sin,”
confessing the error, turning it over to Him who is quick to forgive,
who promises not to remember it against us. (I John 1: 5-10, 2: 1-2)
We have confidence in the future and even death is not fearsome,
as it once was. We know our eternal life is secure in his love for us.
(1 John 3: 1-3, 1 John 5: 11-13) There is no more confusion since
God’s word is clear with regard to our personal responsibilities to
Love God, Love your neighbor and do to others as you would have
them do to you. "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men
men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and
the prophets. (Matthew 7: 12, 22: 36-40)
There is even further clarification for us regarding our responsi-
bilities in James 1:27, where he writes, “Pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father is this; to visit the widows and orphans
in their distress and to keep oneself unspotted by the world.” Then
the Lord, in other Scripture, lays out the areas on which we can work.
Our Eternity will be determined by how we conduct ourselves in these
areas. The first is our words, in Matthew 12:36, secondly our deeds,
in Romans 2: 5-11 and thoughts, in Matthew 15: 17-20 and Isaiah 55:
6-9. James also says, in one place, if a man will control his tongue, he
can know he has control of all the other facets of his life. Simply put,
just make sure we have the tongue under control and according to
God’s word, other areas take care of themselves, with the indwelling
presence of the Spirit as our guide, power and comfort. Here we see
the tongue as barometer of our walk with the Lord. (A scary thought,
considering the many times we fail in this area.)
Two observations: The Lord knows our thoughts are evil at times
and are the seed bed for motive in word and deed. He knows what
prompts us to say and do. He alone is a judge of our motives. We are
incapable of judging ourselves, much less others. We can not attempt
to assign motive to action, even our own. (2 Corinthians 5: 9-11) The
Lord God will in this life and the next, call upon us to give account
for our thoughts, words and deeds. He alone is qualified. Self esteem
is under control as we find a rightful place in service of the Kingdom
of God, according to His will in relationship with His son, empowered
by His Spirit. All of this will fit into the body of Christ for use in the
church, local and universal. If we are anything, it is Christ in us.
"My hope is in the Lord..." Self esteem is way down on the list of the
things important to the child of God.
There is a song having for it's chorus, "My hope is in the Lord...from
this time on and evermore. Oh, My hope is in the Lord...forevermore."
(Romans 12: 1-16) 2.22.17...donporter
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