The last few months, I’ve really been thinking of this word value and valuable and what does it really mean? It often has to do with how important something is to us… something that is precious, costly, or a prized possession.
I had to ask myself what do I value and hold dear to my heart? Are there things that are precious to me and I hold tightly to because they are costly? I had to ask myself how valuable am I to God? Have you ever wondered in your life why you were created for such a time as this, struggling through life trying to find where you belong and if you have value or purpose? I have been there many times in my life and it’s a difficult place to be. Yet God always shows up in those moments and shows me how much He loves me and cares for me. God gives me value and purpose to keep going when my flesh says I can’t do this.
Do you know what I am talking about? I began to ask myself this question…What is it that God really values? I believe God values people, the ones He created for relationship with Him. He values things far greater than what we as humans can fathom or see.
Are there specific things that you remember that impacted you when you were a child that still affect you today? How you look at yourself, and how do you view God, and the way He values you? We often believe the lies that we are not beautiful, we don’t have value, and we don’t have worth. These can get ingrained in our hearts at a very young age.
Often, we may think that our value and worth comes from people that we live with or are around every single day. We might think that our value comes from the things we do for others. We believe the lies that we should be like one of our friends that’s so talented and knows how to care for people better than I do. We believe that we weren’t made for such a time as this. We believe the lie that we aren’t as beautiful, and we believe the lie we are less than, and we will never measure up. We believe the lie we should be like someone else, and we will never be able to be the person we were created to be. Maybe if I would lose weight then my friends would accept me, and maybe if I would hang out with a different group of people I would be accepted. Maybe I think my worth and value will come from what I accomplish. These are all lies that lodge within our hearts and we believe them as truth at times.
The Truth is that the value and worth that God places on our souls is far greater than what any human being could imagine. The value God has placed on our souls which was determined by the price He paid with His blood. What is the value of your soul? God created many aspects to our souls. We were created in His image, which means we can be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. As I was thinking of that I had to think how God places value on things and the things He values are sometimes different than the things we value.
We have been called to be transformed into His likeness, not to be God, but to be like God in our character and actions. Each soul is unique- there’s no one else like you. Our heavenly Father desires us to be with Him! We are valuable to Him.
The price the purchaser was willing to pay for something determines its worth or value... The high price that Jesus shed on Calvary shows our value and worth to God.
“Jesus tells to not worry about everyday life- whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you.” (Matthew 6:25-27,30)
In the Psalms David talks about valuing God’s presence…I long for your presence, as the deer pants for water so my soul longs for you…this was placing value on God’s presence. Your word is more precious to me than Gold, and more valuable than rubies. David valued God’s Word.
In Psalms 139, David talks about how God created us and how he knew us before we were born. Every day of my life was recorded in His book, and every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, Oh God they cannot be numbered. That’s value! This was written to every person, in the world not just for you and me. Every person we meet is valuable to God, and every day of their life was recorded in His book, and it also says how precious His thoughts are about every person. I want us to think about that. What are the things we value? Jesus valued people, He valued relationships and He valued those things more than fame or popularity. He valued truth and was willing to suffer for truth. He valued His relationship with God. He would go away and spend time with the Father. When I look at Jesus’ life and the things, He valued, it gives me a really clear picture of what is truly valuable and what the things are that we should value.
Here's something I was challenged with in my life…how do I give value and purpose to those around me? When I am in a conversation with someone will I value them the same way God values me? Will I accept them for who they are and love them the way I’ve been loved?
- Seeking to bring value to others as Jesus brings value to me,
Mary Herschberger
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