At the end of this post I have placed a link to an amazing woman, she is 107 years old and still going strong. Please, if you do not read this post at least go to the link and watch the entire clip, it is only about twelve minutes long. It may just inspire you. It is called "Dancing under the Gallows."
When I am confronted with this worlds view of who I am it is easy to become self condemning and lower my value of who I thought I was. When I hear the words like "middle class" it reminds me that I have not made the higher grade or received the triple 'A' stamp of approval. Words of a condescending nature will always bring back those years when I had a low self esteem when thought I was unworthy or just unqualified to do anything. It was many years later that I began to realize that my worth was far more valuable than the world made it out to be. What I discovered over all is that the worlds way of thinking could not allow me to become what I was intended to be because then the world would be less valuable than me. So, what does God have to say about my value?
When God created you and me He created us with a specific purpose in mind and He created man in His own likeness. He gave us certain qualities and a unique personality that He desires to dwell with. Then He made it possible for us to dwell together in a unique, physical body. These bodies come in many different shapes and sizes. We can work on our personalities and attempt to change who we are. A person who is angry can make efforts to change that anger to joy. A person who is impatient can work on becoming more patient. Some people are more easy going than others, some on the other hand want to live life to the fullest. Some are born in different parts of a country and develop a personality that will reflect the influences of their surroundings. Most however find that they are not pleased with who they are and make attempts to change their personality to fit the way they think people expect them to be. In Galatians 5:22 we are told that the fruit of the Spirit should be shining through us. The fruit of the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ and those who follow Him and put their trust in Him must walk in that Spirit. So why would we think that God does not love us? If we read a few versus before this we will find a reference to walking in the desires of the flesh, Galatians 5:19-21. I believe that as we choose to walk in the flesh we feel guilty about the way we are living, hence, we reach the conclusion that God has stopped loving us because of the way we may live or not live.
When my children were small and coming to the age of learning more about life in general many times went against the guidelines that they were given. They knew they were doing wrong but chose to do it anyway. When they were disciplined they expressed their feelings of not being loved by us as parents. What they did not realize is that even though they knew they were guilty, we still loved them for who they were. They were still our children and as parents we wanted the best for them. Sometimes for those lessons to be learned they had to face the consequences of their choices. Depending on those choices we would determine the severity of the discipline. Our love did not diminish even when they were walking in the flesh.
1 John 3:1 tells us that we are loved no matter how we act. We have the freedom to live for God or rebel against Him, it is our choice. God still loves us. Now does that mean that we can just live a reckless life and avoid God without penalty? Absolutely not. Every loving parent will discipline their children, if you do not discipline them you probably do not really love them. Discipline is meant to bring the best out in us and keep us on the right path. The problem most of us have is that we think we do not need to follow the guidelines set before us. We listen to the world around us saying that we don't need Christ. We hear the flesh speaking to us from many sources and we begin to believe that is what we need to be accepted and/or loved. In order for us to become better we must have better jeans, a better car, have more money, or maybe we should try this pill that takes you to places unknown. The world's voice would have you believe that in order to be loved you need to change something about yourself. What is it then that we need to change? How much do we need to change? It would seem that no matter what you do to change who you are, according to the world's ways, it is never enough.
Since I can never achieve perfection in the world's eyes, and since according to the world I am not good enough the question we need to ask then is "Why does God love me?. After all, I smell of the world, I am unworthy, and I seem to fail all the time. So how could God love me? It is hard for most of us to understand this concept when throughout the Old Testament God required people to live by some very strict rules and guidelines. Yet, here is a God that "con-descended to live within me and now loves me from the inside out." (Philip Yancey, "Reaching for the Invisible God").
Another quote from Philip Yancey answers the question "Why does God love me?" this way. The bible answers that profound question with one incomparable word: Grace. God loves because of who God is, not because I have done anything to deserve it. God cannot help loving, for love defines his nature.J.B. Phillips, a new testament translator says this about God's love for those who think they are unworthy and cannot find anything in themselves to love: (referring to 1 John 3:1)
"It is almost if John is saying, 'if God loves us, who are we to be so high and mighty as to refuse to love ourselves?'"Since we are so willing to listen to the worlds view of us then we really cannot find a reason to love ourselves. If we cannot love ourselves then how can we find it in us to love others? It is only when we come to the realization that not only is God love, He loves us unconditionally. The whole basis of the bible is showing us His love. The problem is when Adam and Eve rebelled evil entered the world through them and it has remained since. God's creation was done from love. When He put man on earth He intended for His love to be expressed through Adam and Eve and spread throughout the rest of His creation. When man's authority was given over to Satan through rebellion God did not stop loving any part of His creation, but He did out of love provide a way back to Him. So from Genesis to Revelation we see the roadmap of God's plan to bring man back into relationship with Him.
Does the world have a claim on your life? Do you hear the voices around you drawing you into the world's way of thinking? If so you probably are having a hard time hearing God's Holy Spirit speaking. Remember, He speaks in a gentle voice not a loud one. If God did not love you, then why would He send His only Son to die in your place? For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16.
Even though we cannot physically see God does not mean that God is not present. God has never changed His ways but man has changed its views to fit what the world desires. God desires you and wants more than anything to restore a close relationship with you, so why not take the steps to have a closeness with your "Heavenly Father" who definitely "Loves You."
(Please watch the video clip on youtube and pay attention to what the lady says about: bitterness, hate, anger, etc.) If we could only learn to live our lives like that.
Link to "Dancing Under the Gallows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlccsLr48Mw&feature=share
