How do you see yourself?

I was recently looking through a Christian bookstore, when I noticed how large the "self-help" section had become. The part that really discouraged me though was how small the area of theology and doctrine had become. Now don't get me wrong, I think that self-improvement is a great thing, but when you spend time in the Bible, you'll see where your real self-esteem comes from. Now once again, I want to emphasize that the writers of these books are doing nothing wrong when they're trying to teach people how to see themselves in a positive light through the word of God, but with the business of the world today, people are spending more time in these sort of books than the Bible. If you really want to see how God sees you, and how you should see yourself, then read what your creator wrote first,.

Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity (1 Corinthians 13:12, NLT).

There's a new technology that combines photography and the computer to create a picture of a girl looking into a mirror. It produces a funny and distorted amusement-park type reflection without the girl having to be present.

This reminds me of the picture we often get when we try to imagine how God sees us. The image is distorted, but in this case it's not very amusing.

Because knowledge of our sins and shortcomings creates a sense of guilt in us, our spiritual vision is blurred, and we can't see ourselves as clearly as God sees us.

The vision of ourselves can be blurred by either a lack of knowledge of what God says about us, or disbelief in what He says about us.

It is only from God's Word that we can find a true picture of ourselves, as God see us. All else is distorted. The key for a person having a proper self-image is to discover what God says about us. We find this in His holy Word, the Bible.

In the Bible, the sinner sees that he is a sinner and spiritually lost. He also discovers how to solve that problem, find forgiveness and eternal life through God's great love and forgiveness in His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In the Bible, the Christian discovers his new identity as well as his self-worth. Here are some examples:

1. He finds that he is a child of God. (John 1:12.)

2. He finds he is a new creature, and the old has passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17.)

3. He finds that he has been redeemed from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:13.)

4. He finds that he now has peace with God. (Romans 5:1.)

5. He finds he is no longer under condemnation. (Romans 8:1.)

6. He finds that he already has (present tense) eternal life. (John 3:36.)

7. He finds that, in God's eyes, he is already sitting with Christ in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6.)

8. He finds that he can have supernatural power to do God's will. (Acts 1:8.)

9. He finds he has power over the devil. (Luke 10:19.)

10. He finds that as God's child he can ask his Father for anything within His will and he can have it. (1 John 5:14-15.)

11. He discovers that he has been chosen to be an ambassador for Christ, with God's message (2 Corinthians 5:20.)

12. He discovers that he can claim the promise of Jesus for great and mighty things. "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it!" (John 14:12-14, NLT).

I myself love to read some of the great authors of our times in regards to Christian psychology and counceling. These subjects are of great service to our community, but should never be seperate from the word of God. If you seek true self-worth and esteem, just remember that you were created in the image of God. Now that's powerful.

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission
each year until our Lord returns,

Pastor Mike



One for the books


Two tourists were driving through Louisiana. As they approached Natchitoches, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town. They argued back and forth until they finally stopped for lunch.

As they stood at the counter, one tourist asked the blonde employee, "Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are . . . very slowly?"

The blonde girl leaned over the counter and said,
"Burrrrrrrr, gerrrrrrr, Kiiiiing."