Meditating on this week's Sermon

This past Sunday morning, we talked a little about how James had a proper perspective of himself. He could have been proud and self-inflated because he was Mary's son, Jesus' half-brother, or even the head of the Jerusalem Church. And he could have taken the opportunity to puff himself up in the opening verses of the letter that bears his name.

But James didn't do that; he simply referred to himself as the "slave of God." James was humble. He knew that by himself he was no eternal value. He knew that his identity that gave him any worth was his identity in Christ.

As Paul wrote in Rom.12:3, "Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves..." (NLT)

The Life Application Bible states:
"Healthy self-esteem is important because some of us think too little of ourselves; on the other hand, some of us overestimate ourselves. The key to honest and accurate self-evaluation is knowing the basis of our self-worth - our identity in Christ. Apart from him, we aren't capable of very much by eternal standards."

Personally, I believe that last part is stated a little too softly. Jesus said clearly in John 15:5, "Apart from me, you can do nothing."

We have worth because we were created in the image of God and because He loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, to come and die for our sins. Nothing else matters.

Are you too hard on yourself? Constantly putting yourself down and hating who you are, what you look like? Etc. Are you implying that God made a mistake? That you are not His masterpiece?

Are you too soft on yourself? Thinking you're really somebody and that the world should revolve around you? Do you think others owe you? Or worse that God owes you? Have you forgotten that it was we who rebelled against Him, and that the only thing God owes us is death and an eternity in hell? If so, maybe you should read again Rom.3:9-20.

A good and healthy self-esteem is one that recognizes that we are rebellious sinners in desperate need of God's grace and that only through Christ we become the apple of God's eye and His special purchased possession, with all the blessings and privileges of being His sons and daughters. Rather than self-esteem, maybe we should focus on Christ-esteem.

Selah - Meditate on this.