Tuesday, September 17, 2013 -- Living As Honourable People

God created us in love as persons who reflect His goodness and glory.  Our infinite value sometimes gets lost under the sin and brokenness of daily life but we are precious to God and He is calling us today to know that He loves us and wants to honour us today.

You made them [humans] a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor ... But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, so that through God's grace he should die for everyone. We see him now crowned with glory and honor because of the death he suffered ... God says: You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. (Hebrews 2:7 NIV, Hebrews 2:9 GNT, Isaiah 43:4 NLT)

We find it difficult to see value in ourselves because we are flawed persons.  However, our flaws are no surprise to God and, just as a skilled artist can restore a valuable old painting to its original lustre, so God can restore our true beauty and worth.  Once restored, we can live filled with honour and be useful to God, our families, and our communities. 

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord … If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. (Act 3:19 NIV, 2 Timothy 2:21 NLT)

We do not have to live any longer in unhealthy co-dependent relationships either anxiously seeking approval and affirmation, or, desperately hiding our worthlessness behind arrogant positions of power and control.  We can confidently enter into God’s original design for our life -- a life with meaning, honour, purpose, and dignity.  This is life at its best. 

For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

©2013 Partners in Hope