REAL VALUE

I went to the doctor’s office this week. Turns out I have shingles—pretty painful but not life-threatening. I’ll survive.

While I was waiting in the office, I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation between two mothers of small children. They were discussing new methodologies for raising the esteem level in their kids. It sounded like a combination of the cookie-cutter philosophy of Dr. Phil and Oprah—a mile wide and not even an inch deep.

It caused me to think, is low self-esteem really the problem with people today? I don’t believe so. In fact, I think we need to have a proper understanding of the way things really are. Apart from Jesus Christ, we have no value whatsoever. But when Christ comes into our lives, He places His value within us. And now with a new confidence and boldness we have something to offer, because He has made us persons of value.

A great writer can write on an ordinary piece of paper and suddenly it is valuable. A great artist can take a canvas and make a beautiful painting on it that is priceless. It isn't the paper that's valuable, or the canvas. It's what is written on the paper or painted on the canvas.

The Apostle Paul knew that the value of the work he was doing for the Lord was not due to his own ability, but due to the power of God at work in him. He wrote to the church in Corinth, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).

God wrote His name on you when you gave your life to Christ. He invested Himself in you. That's why you can make a difference. God wants to use you, and He has a place for you—a part for you to play, a call for you to answer.

This Sunday at Gatetree

I will continue in our Easter message series this week with "The Seven Last Sayings of Jesus." I hope you will be able to join with us on Sunday at 10:45 AM. You'll be glad you did.