Have you ever noticed how much importance our society places on concepts such as self worth, and self esteem? Did you know God never mentions or even hints at either one in His Word?
Both ideas are the result of humanistic thinking. In other words, it's me-focused thinking. God has never once told us to focus on ourselves. He has never told us to worry about how we feel about ourselves, nor has He told us to focus on ourselves in any way. In fact, He has told us the opposite. The only One who is worthy to be esteemed is the Lord Jesus Christ. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Our attention should be always focused on Him and what He has done for us, not on ourselves.
Jesus is worthy of far more than just the praise of our mouths. The apostle Paul had experienced an encounter with Jesus that transformed his life. He lived out the rest of his days with one goal in mind: to esteem Christ by living for Him and proclaiming Him to the world. Paul wrote...
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1-2).
Our "reasonable service" could be translated as "it's the very least we can do." The very least we, as recipients of the grace of God because of the Lamb who was slain, is to live for Him, esteeming Him in every area of our lives every day.
Its not about our self worth. Its not about our self esteem. Its about esteeming the Lamb who alone is worthy.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing (Revelation 5:12).
{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.
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