City Life Starter

Written by Blesson Selvanesan

The Word

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you,

Isaiah 43:4 (ESV)

Interpretation

Knowing oneself is very essential in Christianity. It vital to understand who we are, what is our value and to whom we belong. If we see purely in materialistic way then we are no more than a group of atoms, if we see biochemically we are no more than protein, sugars, fat, minerals and water, and if we see organ wise we are no more than the sum of all parts of our body. In a reductionist approach, we are nothing but cosmic dust. Is that all? Are we just some atoms? You will agree with me that we are more than that. We are not just the sum all the atoms or the sum of all of our parts, we are somehow more than that. Two halves of a person does not make a whole person. Thus we are more precious than the sum of all of our physical being.

It’s an amazing thing to understand that we are loved by other beings. It’s even mindboggling to know that an almighty being called God loves us. It’s a bit strange but true. This love is unconditional and is worth dying for that God in the form of Jesus died to redeem us. We are loved not because of what we did but because of who God is! This identity and sense of belonging is vital in everyone’s life. If one as a child, “who are you?” invariably they will tell I am the son or daughter of so and so. As we grow up we somehow answer that question by what we do; our profession. The right perspective is the relational one. Who are we? We are the creation of an almighty God, we are precious to him and we are worth dying for!

Application

Our identity is in Christ and not with our professional association. Who we are does not change and has nothing to do with what we do. Let’s not confuse our being with our doing. Our worth and value come from our being and not our doing. If we see that way there is value in everyone in Christ and everyone is precious in the sight of God. God’s eyes are set on us. We are precious and so God loves us. We are infinitely more valuable than the sum of all of our parts.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Help us to know that we are valuable and our value come from You. Help us to be thankful for Your unconditional love. Help us to be one with You and be Your representatives wherever we are. Thank You for creating us and caring for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.