What’s Your Worth? - Encouragement Café - August 8, 2016

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What’s Your Worth?
By Britta Lafont
Monday, August 8, 2016

Thus says the LORD:  “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?”  Jeremiah 2:5 ESV

Historically, in Jeremiah 2:5, The LORD is lamenting over the unfaithfulness of the nation of Israel, His Bride.  But, do you hear Him, whispering to us all?

Worthlessness.  If I could go back to my 15-year old self, I would tell her a thing or two.  Stumbling through the social gauntlet, haunted by a poor self-image, broken-hearted and tossed about.  I would tell this younger version of myself,

You have tried to find your worth by going after worthless pursuits.

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.  Galatians 1:10 ESV

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.  Matthew 6:19 ESV

I would tell my 15-year old self that she had believed the lies and missed the Truth. 

The lies started with the Fall:  that you can’t trust the Word of God to be true; that He would withhold good from you, so you should seek your own desires; that you can hide from your own sin.

I have a daughter, just 10 years old.  I want so much more for her.  I want her to:

• Be faithful to the Lord, putting Him first in life, loving Him with all her heart, soul and mind.  

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  Matthew 22:37 ESV

• Know that obedience to the LORD brings peace with Him:  

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23 NIV

• Keep a clean slate with Him.  

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9 ESV

• Remember her life in Him has eternal significance.  

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Romans 12:1 ESV

When we run after worthlessness, we feel worthless.  The Lord is worthy of our love and our loyal obedience.  Pursuing Him brings peace and purpose.

Remember our relationship with the Lord is…a relationship. 

Think of how you would want to be treated by a loved one and then speak lovingly to Him, spend time thinking of Him, get to know Him by listening to His Words, care about what He cares about, stay reconciled with Him, share your relationship with others.

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?  Romans 6:16 ESV

Precious Lord, Thank you for giving us worth.  May we seek to see ourselves as well as those around us through Your eyes.  Forgive us when we doubt Your promises.  Remind us of that You are worthy of our love and our loyal obedience.  Pursuing You is the only thing that will bring us peace and purpose.  For it’s in the name of Jesus we pray, amen.

© 2013 by Britta Lafont. All rights reserved.

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