"Biblical Self-Image" October 21 Readings: 2 Corinthians 5

Today's Reading - 2 Corinthians 5

Background

How do you view yourself? The world tells us that it is all about our self-image, our self-esteem. 2 Corinthians 5 defines a healthy self-image, one based on the realities of Christ's work in us, not on what who we are in ourselves.

• We are people who of eternity, not of the present.
• We walk by faith, not by sight. 
• We recognize that we will appear before his judgment seat to give account of our lives.
• We are new creatures in Christ. 
• We live to bring others into reconciliation with Christ. 
• We understand where it all comes from (v 21). He who had no sin became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God. 

Devotional - Biblical Self-Image

What is the key to having a biblical self-image? If you listen to the social experts in our world (who are the very definition of biblical fools so often) then you believe that it is self-assertion, loving yourself, and never letting anything have a higher priority than yourself in life.

But for the Christian, it is very different. Our self-image flows from the truths of the gospel, summarized in verse 21.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Life does not flow from who I am or my accomplishments, but from the love of God expressed through Jesus Christ. We are what we are not because we picked ourselves up by our bootstraps, not because of our will-power or determination, but because Jesus paid it all. Jesus did it. He made us new people. He gave us an eternal dwelling. He reconciled us to God and gave us a new purpose in life - the ministry of reconciliation. That's who we are and we are that because Jesus made us that.

Father, thank you for all you have done for me in Christ. May my identity be found in Christ, and in him alone. May I not seek identity, satisfaction, achievement, or success in anyone or anything but Christ. 

Think and Pray

Where is your identity?
What is the source of your self-image? Is it in human things or is it in the work of Christ in you?