Have you ever had trouble liking yourself or feeling happy for who you are? Do you shy away from looking deep into your eyes in the mirror? What are they telling you when you do? Do you easily get frustrated with yourself, or feel like you are “not enough” or flawed in some way? Well, join the human race – we all feel like this from time to time – or even most of the time.
There is a remedy for this dilemma, however. It is found in becoming a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our former thoughts, words and actions are transformed by the Spirit of God until we actually have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11), and we become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
We are not only united with Christ in God (Ephesians 4:13; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3), but also with one another (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Race, color and background have no bearing on us when we are in Christ (Galatians 3:28). We are members of one family, adopted children of God (Galatians 4:7).
Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin, through the law of the Spirit of life (Galatians 5:1; Romans 8:2-4). God blesses us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm through the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. He paid our sin debt on Calvary’s cross, even though He never sinned Himself (Ephesians 1:3).
Before He even formed the earth, God chose for everyone to find salvation in Jesus. He made it possible for us to live holy and unblemished lives in His sight through the mind, nature, and character of Christ in us (Ephesians 1:4). The blood of Christ allows us to draw near to God, because it removes the stain of sin from our life (Ephesians 2:13).
This makes us a member of Christ’s Body and partakers of all of God’s promises in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6, 5:30). Jesus’ faithfulness gives us bold confidence to come to God’s throne in any time of need (Ephesians 3:12). Jesus is the only door to salvation for us, and we cannot know God, without first knowing Him (1 Timothy 2:5).
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for redeeming us with the blood of Jesus and for forgiving us of all our personal transgressions according to Your abundant mercy and the richness of Your grace (Ephesians 1:7). You predestined everyone who chooses to accept Jesus’ sacrifice - by admitting that we are a sinner in need of His salvation - to enter Your family by faith.
We love that once we do, You decide that we are Your unique possession, chosen to inherit with Christ all of the spiritual riches of Your Kingdom (Ephesians 1:11). You not only make us alive in Christ Jesus, but You also sealed us with Your Holy Spirit, which is our promise of glorification (Ephesians 1:13, 2:4-5). Thank You for giving us a new standard for judging our self, and Your love for our self - including all of our quirks and weaknesses.
Thought for the Day:
God raises us up with Jesus and seats us with Him in the heavenly realm, because we are His workmanship, created to accomplish His good works that He created for us to do before the foundation of the world; by abiding within our spirit, God’s Spirit gives us supernatural peace that verifies that we are now part of God’s family for eternity.
- Ephesians 2:6, 2:10
