OUR ESTEEM IS GRACE-ESTEEM

“Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving.”  (Ephesians 2:7-9 MSG)

The greatest need of any person is to be known and loved. The cry is strong; the human desire is deep. "I want to be somebody. I want my life to count." Closely related to the feeling of worth is the perception of who we are. When we esteem something or someone, we highly value it or the person. To esteem ourselves is to have high regard for ourselves. Many of the problems in human relations stem from a person's lack of self-esteem.

[However,]... our worth and value is given. We are called not to muster it up within ourselves, but to receive the gift given to us, a gift of the grace of God in Jesus Christ. God has declared our value. Our value is not rooted in self-esteem, based only on ourselves. Our value is discovered in grace, which is rooted in the greatness and graciousness of God...

God's love makes it possible to know we are valued. We cannot put ourselves down or debase ourselves. We can know our true worth because we are children of God. Our esteem is rooted in the amazing grace of God. Our esteem is grace-esteem.

-- H. Eddie Fox in “Grace-Esteem” 

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YOU ARE LOVED BEYOND MEASURE

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.”  (1 John 3:1a NIV)

Imagine the Creator of the universe, the One who painted the skies and molded the mountains, leaning in to call you His child. Not because of anything you’ve done, but simply because of who He is, our loving Heavenly Father, and what Christ, God’s Son, has done for us on the cross. What an incredible truth! You are a “Child of God and Person of Worth” (COGPOW) and it isn’t something you earn, it’s a gift freely given. But like all gifts, it is one that must be received.

In a world that often tries to define your worth by achievements, appearances, or possessions, God’s message cuts through: You are already enough. You are infinitely valuable, not because of what you do, but because of Whose you are. You are His.

Sometimes, life might make you question your value. Past mistakes or the opinions of others can cast doubt on your identity. But remember, God sees you as His masterpiece, created with purpose, loved without condition, and cherished forever. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

You are a reflection of His image -- a bearer of divine worth. You are not defined by your flaws or failures but by His grace and love.

Today, as you go about your day, remind yourself: I am a Child of God and a Person of Worth. Bonnie Crandall coined the phrase “COGPOW” to represent this essential truth about who you are. Remind yourself that this is who you are because of Whose you are. Let that truth shape how you see yourself and how you treat others. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources 

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