“What Number Are You?” Romans 12:3

“What Number Are You?”  Romans 12:3

I was in the store and these two frazzled parents and three screaming kids were today’s special! The parents treated the children harshly, trying everything to get them to behave. I thought at one time they just might desert them and leave them in the store. Many people see their relationship with God like that family in the store. God is yelling at us, treating us, beating us, and sorry He made us.

How do we see ourselves, self-image? Do you see a prince or princess of God’s kingdom? Do you see a weak skinny kid, or an overweight kid, The kid with crooked teeth, or flat lifeless hair? Do you see the fine cloths the master has provided, sparkling earrings or neckless of gold? Or are you focused on the smudge of dirt on your face and the grass stain on your knee? Or maybe you see your split lip, black eye and bruised knuckles? How do you see yourself? Are you a 1 or a 9? How do you see yourself? How does God see you?

How many of our troubles in life can be traced back to our self-image? The girl or woman who starves herself to death because she thinks she is to fat? The person who eats to much or drinks to much because they feel like a failure? The person who must have everything perfect? The person who must have all the toys, all the money etc.

High

When some people look in the mirror they see God. They are the greatest and deserve to be treated that way. They want to be treated as more important than everyone else. They deserve to get their way and most often do. They are prideful, boastful, and arrogant, but then again, they have a right to be, they’re the best.

Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

Low

When others look in the same mirror they see failure, and imperfection. Who would want to be around or with them, they don’t even want to be with them. They have nothing to offer to the world that it would want so why bother.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

 

How God sees you

Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

You are the prince or princess of the kingdom.

There was a mother at a playground with her son, she sat on a bench trying to pretend to read a book while keeping a watchful eye on him. He wanted no help today he had announced he was a big boy. He worked hard to climb ladders and monkey bars. Went down the slide and got his knees skinned when he fell face first at the end. He looked up managing not to start crying and mom gave two thumbs up. So, he ran off to the swings. Later when another kid on the titer totter jumped off low while he was high, he got is elbow knocked hard on the ground. He was tired, so mom carried him to the car and smiled as she drove home, and he took a nap.

I watched a father at the zoo with his daughter walking hand in hand, laughing and pointing at all the strange animals God has created. Sometimes to see he would lift her high or even carry her on his shoulders. It was clear she was getting tired, so he carried her to the car and left the rest of the zoo for another day.

This is how God sees you, you are His child and He wants to both see you walk on your own and is more than willing to kiss skinned knees and carry you when you are worn out.

Psalm 34:3-7 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.