How do you see yourself? Do you like what you see? I am questioning your self image --not the one you project to others, but your own deep and private view of yourself. Forget body shape, status symbols, even values such as honesty and unselfishness. I'm talking about deeper things like self worth, personal potential,
The answer to these deeper questions is the same for every human being. Furthermore, most people have already answered those questions in their own hearts before they leave childhood, but have got the answers wrong, and the consequences of that
For your self image to be true, there are some things you don't need,
But some things are indispensable,
So many people feel unworthy and unfulfilled. Worse, their rightful destiny is lost. To correct our self image, and to avoid replacing one false image with yet another illusion, we need enlightenment from someone wonderfully wise, who knows us far better than
Jesus is "the Word" (or Explanation) who gives us the true light about ourselves Jesus is the image of God, and he can transform
Those Bible passages may reveal three things: Firstly, you have been demeaning yourself, not matching your self-image to the image and esteem in which God holds you. Secondly, you have not realised that the road to your rightful destiny is tough, and may traverse much painful tribulation. Thirdly, you have not understood that achieving God's purpose for you will bring you uttermost joy, whilst failing to achieve it will bring you unimaginable
There is no doubt that you can achieve God's purpose for you. When you accept your place as God's heir child, no enemy can force you to stray from The Way. God sets his seal upon his children, and ensures that they are not tempted beyond what they can bear
Having submitted by faith to the ceremony of immersion in water, which symbolises the death, burial, and resurrection which Jesus underwent for your sake, you are united with Jesus. You are born again, lovingly accepted as God's heir child, your own name entered into the Book of Life. You are absolutely assured of your inheritance beyond this life, provided that you hold on to your new and true self image, which is God's image of you
Reckon your own personal potential and worth in those terms, and your life, regardless of how the world may value it, will be fruitful and full
We humans are clever at being pretenders. We have all heard of the Antichrist, the great deceiver. In fact there are many antichrists
We pretend we are wise, that our money and possessions are really important, that what we say is smart, that wild and immoral behaviour is having a good time. In these and many other ways
If you wish to see what the Great Guide says about these things, here is a selection of Bible
These various examples of self-deception seem bad enough, but add one most critical fact: self-deception hardens your heart, and the longer it continues, the more you become "hardened by the deceitfulness of sin". Your conscience becomes "seared as with a branding iron" and it doesn't bleed any more
This self-deception is the most important problem you have to deal with in your life. If you won't admit your sins and bring them to God, then you stand to lose the wonderful fellowship with God that could be yours
Many hundreds of years ago, a man called Paul took a good hard honest look at himself and his standing with God. "Oh wretched man that I am!" he exclaimed, "Who shall deliver me...?" The answer was, "Jesus Christ our Lord!"
In the previous chapter, Paul showed that Jesus died so that we could be forgiven of sin and be restored to God's fellowship . We do this by faith in Jesus, repentance from our sins, and baptism into Christ's death
It's bad enough to demean and deceive ourselves, but what makes it worse, is that we thereby destroy ourselves. This destruction could not possibly be more terrible. The Bible calls it "death" but it is not a death marked by tombstones. It is eternal death. In John's vision it was a lake of fire
That eternal destruction of your soul begins with a false image of yourself and with deceiving yourself about your sins. Ultimately it destroys your soul, but meanwhile it ruins your present life. At best it makes your life a house of cards that will soon fall down. At worst it makes your life a misery of failed enterprises, broken relationships,
You must stop this self-destruction, unlike the vast majority who keep going down that path
The following blessings are too precious to destroy
Today we hear much about the problems of divorce, drugs, disease, and so forth. These things, when they are the victim's own fault, have an underlying cause
Don't demean, deceive, and destroy yourself any longer. Let Jesus into your heart and he will make
Which represents a true