The Value Of You

When we hear about terrorist attacks, massacres in the Third World or cases of human-trafficking it is easy to lament the loss of the perceived value of human life.  It seems like life today just doesn’t seem to be held in the same high standard that it once occupied.  While these cases of the extreme devaluing of life get our attention, how many of us struggle with appreciating the value of our lives?  Sure, we understand the essence of life in general, but it is often easy to fail to appreciate just how special we are – no matter who we are!
When we struggle with self-appreciation, let’s recall a few simple (but powerful) observations from the Bible:
1.  We are made in the image of God.  God’s crowning creative act was accompanied by this commentary, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness …” (Genesis 1:26).  No we aren’t gods, but we are fashioned after the image of the Supreme One.
2.  We are incredibly made.  David praised God’s role in his own life by observing, “… I am fearfully and wonderfully made …” (Psalm 139:16).  Let’s remember the saying that made its way onto several T-shirts a few years ago, “God made me and God doesn’t make junk!”.
3.  We were redeemed by the blood of Jesus.  At one point in our lives we were in spiritual slavery to satan, but God loved us so much that He was willing to pay the highest ransom ever demanded.  Paul reminded the earliest Christians (and us):  “… you have been bought with a price …” (I Corinthians 6:19) and that price was Jesus!
4.  We are eternal beings.  Our lives are more than the years we spend on this earth.  We have been created with an eternal nature that is destined to last forever.  The Bible offers us hope by declaring, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).   Sure, times can be difficult or unfulfilling for the  few dozen years we walk this planet, but let’s never lose sight of the potential of an eternity with God and His children.
5.  We influence the lives of others.  It is tempting to reflect on our lives and wonder if anyone notices (much less cares about) our lives.  Yet, the truth of humanity is that we are entwined with each other.  We mustn’t diminish our self-worth by doubting people’s love and we cannot dismiss our responsibility to care for others.  The phrase “one another” is found over 100 times in the New Testament, but the concept may be best captured in the simple statement, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (I John 4:11).
As Christians, we comprehend the importance of human life.  Maybe what we need is a reminder that, yes, there is value in each and every one of our lives!  

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