Believe God's Words About You

Do you think I am trying to get the favor of men, or of God? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant owned by Christ. Galatians 1:10 (NLT)

The key to Jesus being Jesus is He knew who He was.

Jesus pushed against the natural and religious rules of His day. He—just a carpenter—spoke revelations in the temple courts. He— just a man from Nazareth—healed on the Sabbath. He—just Joseph’s son—rebuked the religious leaders. And He did it with unwavering authority. Who was He to do all of this?

He was God-Man sent to bridge Earth to Heaven; He forged the reunion between man and God. The leaders of His day could only see that He was wrapped in common flesh. They could only see that He derived from common parents. They could only see through the perspective of commonness. That is why when Jesus went to the temple courts to teach, the chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders asked Him, “By what authority are you doing these things… And who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 11:28). With this question, they meant, “You are only common. How dare you presume to teach as a Rabbi (on our level) when you are obviously inferior to us?”

Jesus wrestled against the perspectives of those around Him. Their perspectives were rusted, hardened by their established rules, by their own humanness, by their consuming jealousy, and by their anger at anyone who challenged mediocrity. Instead of adopting their ideas about the world and about who He was, Jesus rebuked them.

Resist the tendency to adopt others’ opinion of you. Resist the urge to use the common measuring stick of the ordinary. Resist the inclination to try to fit into the small places of commonness when they cramp and press-down the God-breathed creature you have become. You are a new creation in Christ. “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Believe what God says about you!

Think about it.

Why was it so brave for Jesus to resist the opinions of others about Him? Why do we tend to believe the opinions people have about us?

Read about it.

What does God’s Word say about you? Look at Isaiah 43:4, Joshua 1:9, Philippians 4:13, Romans 8: 31 Corinthians 5:17, Luke 12:7, Philippians 3:20. Write your favorites down. THIS is who you are.

Pray about it.

God, help me to believe what you say about me over the opinions of others. You say I am perfectly handmade by you. My body is exactly as you designed it; I will not criticize it. My mind is made with the capacity needed to complete your will; I will set its focus on you and let it drink in your peace. My Spirit is made to perfectly attach to You; I will hold on tightly to your words and release my grip on the words I have heard from others. Lord, you made me like no other. Help me draw in so closely to you that your words about me are the only ones I care to hear. In Jesus name.