Colossians 3:1-4, "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
I think one of the biggest problems in the church and why it cranks out so many worldly people, at least that is the case here in Georgia, is that we do a good job about teaching Jesus and forgiveness, but we do a horrible job at teaching about how to make him our Lord.
And one of the biggest mistakes is to teach self-esteem. I think of someone like Donald Trump. The guy definitely has self-esteem, but is he really someone we want our kids to be like? Do we want our kids to have such high views of themselves that they think they can sleep with whoever they want to, get pregnant, have abortions, look at horoscopes, view porn, and then blame everybody else for their problems and decide that they don't need to ask God for forgiveness? Or do we want them to become young men and women who both love Jesus and fear him as both their loving Savior who will also judge the world some day?
The problem is not lack of self-esteem. The problem is that they are not taught to fear God anymore. They are not told of his absolute holiness and perfection or that just one sin is enough to keep them under his Wrath for eternity which is what it is so important that they accept Jesus as their Savior.
And they are told that they are enough when really, God is simply enough. Look closely at Ephesians 2:10. This applies to all believers: "For we are his workmanship." Whose workmanship? His. God's. Not mine, not my mom or dad's, not my teacher's, not my best friend, not my favorite show, not my cell phone's. I am God's workmanship. Which means without God, there is no me and certainly no reason to boast in myself apart from the worth God gives me.
How did God create us? "Created in Christ Jesus." God made a way so that we would not have to endure his Wrath for eternity. He did not act like what I did was not important. He also did not cast me away as a nothing. He sent my sin to Jesus Christ and gave me his perfect life. Neither of us deserve that. I was created in Christ and that is what he does for believers which is why they matter so much. That is what he can do for you.
And why did he create us? "For good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in him." My good works do not save me. Apart from Jesus they are only just as evil as my sins. Christ's works save me and because of that I can follow him. God does have a plan for your life, but you have to follow his plan. You have to marry before you have sex. You have to marry the opposite gender. You have to go to a church body once a week. You have to seek His will in His Word. And you have to believe Jesus. And when he saves you, you will do all that. And he will be enough. You won't need anything else. Give your life to him and esteem him, then you will have time to esteem yourself in light of him.
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