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May God bless you
this day to know your worth!
I am of no use to anyone or
anything. Im a failure in my marriage, at my job, with my
children, with making friends, in my ministry with God.
At sometime in our lives, each one of us knows the depth of feeling
completely and absolutely worthless. There are expectations we
dont meet. Goals, we dont reach. Dreams, we dont
achieve. Life doesnt turn out the way we hoped. Were at that age and were still struggling to make ends meet, get through the
day, keep it all together, or all of the above. And we wonder,
Why doesnt God love me?
We have been called to reach out to others, care for them, and help
them in their times of pain, fear and sorrow. But two things often
happen for which we are seldom prepared. The first is when the others of our lives fail, suffer, become ill, panic, get laid off, or
lose their marriages. We share their grief and with it, a sense of
worthlessness. I remember once when some dear friends were heading
straight into terrible trouble. I warned and counseled and begged
and prayed, but they hit it like a brick wall and suffered
terribly. I felt like Id been completely useless.
The second is when, after all of our efforts to love, encourage and build
up those others, they turn on us. They put us down, dont stand
up for us, or treat us as though we are strangers. Our friendship
is easily exchanged for a relationship that promises more for what they
can get out of it. It may be in terms of influence, prestige, or
just to keep everything flowing one way down Make ME Feel Good
Street.
But the thing is, God did not tell us to reach out only to those who will
return the love, or care only for those who will stay our friends, or
help only those who will at least say, Thank you. But when theres
no love or friendship or even someone who will be nice, we eventually
look inward to see if we were ever worthy to begin with. And far
too often, we conclude that were not.
Jesus once said,
Are not
five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by
God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be
afraid; you are worth more than many
sparrows. Luke
12:6-7
Sparrows, then and now, are small birds usually found in great
numbers. They get into everything, nest everywhere, are overly
assertive when it come to possession and territory, and show little
regard for anything not theirs. In many areas around the world they
are regarded as nuisances and are trapped and killed in great
numbers. To be blunt, they are among the jerks of the bird
world. Yet Jesus tells us that God remembers and cares for even
these jerky birds. And whats His point?
you are worth
more than many sparrows
For each child of God, each
true believer in Christ, each man, woman and child who follows
Jesus, regardless of failure, unmet expectations (theirs and yours),
unachieved goals, and broken dreams, regardless of it all, God sees us as
being important to Him and having worth in His kingdom.
Ah, but at times these can seem to be only words. So how can we
experience such worth? Hes already told us: Be completely
humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with one another in love. Make
every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of
peace. Show proper respect to everyone. Pray continually and
give thanks. Stand up for truth and in that truth, take a stand for
Him and those He loves. Encourage others as long as it is called
Today and urge them to live lives worthy of God. (John 13:34-35;
15:12-17; Romans 13:7; Galatians 5:22-26, Ephesians 4:2-4; Colossians
1:10-13; Hebrews 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22;
1 Peter 2:17; 1 John 3:11; 4:7,11,21; 2 John 5)
Your worth is found not in the eyes of man, but in the heart of
God.
(this is from a devotional that i subscribe to)
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| | Posted 2/28/2006 8:59 PM - 27 Views - 10 eProps - 2 comments
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