How do you view yourself? Do you think of yourself as a good person? Do you think of yourself as a bad person? Do you think of yourself as a sinful person? Are you proud? Are you shamed? Are you somewhere in between? Does it depend on the moment?
We all have a general perception of ourselves. We have specific perceptions of ourselves that are dependent on the situation. If we react badly, we think worse of ourselves. If we do good for someone, we think better of ourselves. Each specific perception feeds our general perception.
Sociologists will tell us there are three versions of who we are — who we think we are, who others think we are, and the real us. To understand who the real us is, we must set aside who we think we are and who others think we are. We must look deep inside ourselves objectively. This is a very difficult thing to do. In fact, it is so difficult that even if we want to, it will take us numerous attempts to finally get to our core being.
God knows who we are. He knows our core being better than we know ourselves. He knows we are weak, even if we think we are strong. He knows every fault, even if we do not recognize them. He every strength, even if we do not use them. Because God knows us so well and loves us so much, he sent his Son to die for us. Because Jesus loves us as much as the Father, He willingly came to die for us.
We may never peel away our outer perceptions of ourselves to see the true, inner self, but we can be confident that Jesus died for us. We can trust that God knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us. We are to trust God, know he loves us, and love ourselves as God’s creation, the image of God.
I pray we all trust that God knows us better than we know ourselves. I pray we know that God loves us. I pray each one of us love God in return and love ourselves as God’s creation. Trust God. God knows you. God loves you. Love God. Love yourself.
Romans 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Marty Pressey 