Sometimes we consider ourselves worth a lot. Our feelings, desires, hopes, and innate value we consider to be high above all else. But what if I told you, your value magnifies when you lay aside yourself and you follow Jesus. You see, true eternal value is found in Him. All this self-made, or self-exalting value is worthless compared to eternity. Whatever wealth or fame gained here on earth quickly fades into obscurity either before or after our own death. Even those who have made such great impact on our society, such as Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, or George Washington reside in infamy until someone decides to pick out their worst and trash their best traits and achievements. Our best can never fully erase our worst moments, and we do not get to choose what others remember us for. Our humanity dooms us to mediocracy at best.
But God has promised value to all who follow Jesus Christ, those who find their identity in Him. He exchanges our worst and provides us His best. Precisely, He takes our sin and covers us in His righteousness. So, let us take a moment to look at who we are (Our Value and identity) as only can be found in Christ Jesus. Then with awe, wonder, hope and anticipation let us follow Jesus to wherever He might lead us, knowing He loves us and desires our best. He gives us value beyond anything we could hope for or imagine.
Ephesians 1:
Valued in Spiritual Blessings
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Think of this! He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. What are spiritual blessings? The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23. Contrast that with the nature of humanity: strife, discord, impatience, self-centeredness, anger, frustration, greed, and bitterness. By nature, we see ourselves as King of our little world and want all to bow to our wants. Doubt that? Just spend 10 minutes with any toddler. It only intensifies in adults (although sometimes more subtle and hidden, but the same agenda). Wonder why so many divorces? Or failed relationships at work, home, and politically?
Yet it does not have to be that way. We are given freely every spiritual blessing. The Holy Spirit indwells the heart of each believer and all we need do is yield to Him.
Value as Chosen Children
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, (Before the world was ever made, He chose us. He knew we would be His. Willing to suffer all the pains, suffering and even the cross that we might be His.
that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (We are made holy in Him. Cloaked in the righteousness of Christ, we no longer have any shame or blame. How? Love. God’s love for us who willingly would endure all that He hates, just to accomplished what He absolutely loves—to shower us in His love, His joy and His Glory. He did not need us to be complete; but He desired to have a creature on whom He could lavish everything, thus He created us in His image.
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Why would He do such a thing? It was the GOOD PLEASURE of His will-He delights in us, His children. We are adopted into His family. An adopted child is chosen, special, and particularly showered in His affection.
Furthermore, He did it
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He [a]made us accepted in the Beloved.
That all the Universe might know the GLORY of His Grace. Grace is one attribute of His Glory, His being, the essence of all that He IS. Thus, He provided the means of our salvation through His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
Value in Redemption
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Because of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed, washed clean of all our guilt and sin. The chains of sin no longer hold us).
Furthermore, our hope of redemption is made know to us.
8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and [b]prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, [c]both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. (He has made His truth known to us! It is His Grace that shows us the depth of His love and gives us the faith to believe. It was His Good Pleasure to save us, He purposed this Himself since before creation. One day, every knee shall bow before Jesus.
Value in our Inheritance
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. (He is Sovereign and we who know Him can rest assured He will accomplish all that He desires in our lives. We will look like Him. Through us He will shine forth His glory. Whatever it takes, He does not abandon the work He began in us.)
Value in Security
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[d] is the [e]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Wow, for all who have trusted in Him, through accepting the truth of His word, the gospel message which leads to Salvation, we are sealed. Note this. Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Guaranteed we will be fully redeemed. One Day we will look like Him! One day my heart will be perfected as His! To the praise of His Glory, for only He can transform a regenerate broken heart into one that overflows with Godly love.
Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom to KNOW Your Value
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your [f]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality[g] and [h]power and [i]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Therefore, with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, He wants to raise you from spiritual death into life. So, knowing your Value as can only be found in Him, will you follow Jesus?
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.