Increasingly, many people are influenced by social media into forming a view of themselves.
This may not necessarily be realistic, but may seem to conform to what others see as being ‘normal’ or acceptable.
If we don’t fit the pattern portrayed by ‘influencers’, there is a danger that we may feel pressure to change who we actually are, in order to give ourselves a feeling of worth.
The Bible reminds us that a person’s real worth lies not in how we see ourselves, but in how God sees us.
The problem is, if we have a wrong understanding of who God is, we will also have a wrong view of how He sees us.
Even though many people are happy to acknowledge the existence of God, they can mistakenly see Him as distant and uncaring at best, or even worse, as a ‘cosmic policeman’ waiting to pounce on them for any small mistake.
Proverbs 9:10 tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”.
This fear is not to make us terrified of a Holy God, but to lead us into an understanding of His holiness and power over all of Creation, and His care and love for those He created.
Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, came to live as one of us.
He was to give us a clearer understanding of the God of the Bible, and to have the opportunity for a personal relationship with Him as He really is.
The danger has always been for humans to try to make God into something He is not.
God has revealed Himself to us in Scripture, and in Jesus Christ, and we should get to know Him for who He is.
We cannot fully know ourselves without knowing God and His plan for us.
So, take the opportunity to get to know Him better.
~ Contributed by Bruce Driver from the Uniting Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
11°C