“If no one else has told you, or you haven’t heard it lately: you matter to God.”
-Jason Malone, Fall Bible Conference,
Cedarville University
I’ve been back at school for less than a week…and God is
already moving in my heart and in my life. This past year I realized that I
have an identity issue. I learned that I put far to much value in what others
think of me. Whether that is good, bad or just thinking about me at all. I want
to be approved of and I want to be noticed. I’ve always loved being the center
of attention, making people laugh, and until recently I thought that was okay.
And in a way it is…but I am learning that like all things in life…it’s about
moderation.
This fall bible conference has been revolutionary for me.
It’s like God walked me through the fiery lesson and now he is debriefing with
me. He is saying, “This is the point…let’s hope you finally let it sink into
your stubborn selfish head.” God is doing a work in my heart that I pray will
sink into my life. My prayer is that I am finally able to see where God wants
my value to lie and that I am able to see that he is the one I need to please.
All the other people in my life are there for a reason and I should not take
that for granted, but I also shouldn’t pour my life into them with the purpose
of finding my worth there.
We are worthy because we are loved, created, adopted and
named. We care far too much about the opinions of others…when our focus should
be on Christ; if we are in line with him and his plan for us then we are doing
what we should be. But the revolutionary truth is, even if we are miles from
where we should be…we are loved and desired just the same. Our God is a God who
seeks…who removed the need for sacrifice by giving us his son, who chooses to
forgive our sin and see us washed clean.
We matter, not because we are gifted, talented or beautiful,
but because we belong to God. He has a plan for each created person…so follow
him passionately, and even if that means walking straight into a disaster, he
has a purpose for this process and he loves you more than you know.
