There is a great misconception circulating the globe about value, today.
To be valuable means to be rare, in demand, or of some high quality.
The problem with most of us who seek to understand what value we hold, is that we are none of those things.
Except, maybe, rare…
This misconception leads us to doubt that we do, in fact, hold value in this world unless we set ourselves apart from others.
We do this by working harder…
Earning more…
Getting a promotion…
Specializing in a rare skill, and sometimes…
We make stuff up because we come up empty.
This misconception of value also confuses our understanding of dignity. To be dignified in this world means that we hold the aforementioned value in the eyes of others.
The problem?
Jesus never demonstrated value in the eyes of the world.
But he did demonstrate value in the eyes of God.
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3 (ESV)
Based on Isaiah 53, Jesus was totally unvaluable and without dignity.
Does that make you feel better? Worse?
Do you agree?
The inevitable truth I find as we search through scripture is that followers of Jesus must be OK with living without dignity, without honor in the eyes of the world, and without the validation of their own personal value.
Jesus is the one who determines your value.
You are loved.
You are valuable.
You are broken and sinful…
But you hold tremendous value in the eyes of a redeemer.
Let’s change the way we view ourselves, the church, and the world. After all, if you are following Jesus, you are no longer of this world and it holds no more power over you…no matter how invaluable they claim you are.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. John 17:16–19 (ESV)
Be sanctified in truth, today.
Mark
Lead Pastor
