Our True Worth

Ephesians 2:4-13 NIV

4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.  10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

One in Christ

11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

By grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8 -9 (NIV)

I was practicing playing my flute at home and felt I was a good player.  This was because there was no one I could compare myself with.  Then I joined a local orchestra and felt my playing was not up to their standard.  I was continually comparing myself with others, but neither opinion of my playing was accurate.

Then I began to think about my judgment of my own life and realized it was similar.  To measure myself against myself is no true guide.  And if I measure myself against others, that is just as inaccurate.  The only person who knows my true worth is God.

God is not influenced by any past failures or successes. And God does not regard what others think of me.  God alone knows exactly who I am, and the unbelievable fact is that God still loved me enough to allow Jesus to die for me.  My heart is full of inexplicable joy at this truth.

Carol Purves (Cumbria, England)

Gracious God, teach us not to look to ourselves or to others to know our true worth. We pray in the confidence of your children, saying "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."* Amen.

God knows our true worth and loves us abundantly.

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