“…knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 NASB
Our personal perceived value is often low due to the erroneous teaching on humility. True humility is thinking of ourselves as the Lord thinks of us. It is not trying to eliminate ourselves. If the Lord had wanted to eliminate us and simply live in our bodies, He would not have needed us at all. His desire is that we will receive the precious price paid and begin to live as one deeply and highly valued.
When we begin to understand this and begin to live in this light, our entire life-scape begins to change and we begin to be empowered to live in the trust/faith that is given in His redemption. (Romans 12:3) Since “…seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3) We would do well to open our minds and hearts to receive this calling and allow His thoughts to take first place in our mind and life.
Our own thoughts about ourselves are often warped by what we have experienced in relationship with others, or what we have spent time watching, listening to and reading. Our world is not conducive to holy and right thoughts. Distractions come from every direction. But, when we choose to receive, truly receive in our deepest levels of being, the truth of His love that is evident in His payment, then we begin to be able to really hear and “see” His Word and the movement of His Spirit in that Word, through that Word, and out of that Word! His thoughts, provisions and love for us begin to take a proper place and we begin to be able to stand in Him.
There are two “But…He said’s” that come to us when we begin to ponder these thoughts. The first is from John the Baptist, when he said in John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John was talking about his ministry, not his person. We cannot decrease our persons – just doesn’t happen regardless of how hard we try. Our person must begin to shine in Him and become more than we ever thought. This is what pleases Him and shows off our worth – Us with and in Him, the hope (expectation) of glory! Not just Him, but the two of us!
The other “but” comes from Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:31 where he writes, “I die daily.” Once again the context of the statement is of ultimate importance. He is talking about facing physical death every day. He is not talking about dying inwardly, nor about sin at all.
In each case the context of the text is completely overlooked and the text has been made to apply to something that is untrue. So as we begin to ponder just what His payment of life – eternal blood, says about our value in His heart, may that begin to dominate our thoughts about ourselves. Lots of stuff begins to change right about now!
Mannaword 