You Are Worthy
The debate about “worthiness” happens every time a professional athlete signs a record contract. In March of 2019 the LA Angels determined that center fielder Mike Trout was worthy of a 12-year contract for $430 million. That translates into $220,000 per game, $67,000 per at bat Is he worth it? The only person worth praise is Jesus. He has the power, wisdom, strength, and glory to free a sinful and decaying creation. I know a lot of people do not feel worthy. When we start seeing our worth, we will find it harder to stay around people who don’t. When we mature in our Christian walk we will learn how to walk away from situations that threaten our peace of mind, self-respect, values, morals or self-worth. When we understand and know our worth, no one can make us feel worthless.
I think so many people gauge their worth through their careers, work, school, social status and sports. Now that so many people are not working, not going to school, not playing sports, not hanging in large groups, how do they gauge their worth? Maybe this time of slowing down has helped us find our worth. This time we have been given is a gift if we accept it that way. Our worthiness does not come from our job, career, sports, achievements, etc. Our worthiness comes from God. Isaiah 43: 1, "But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name;you are mine." God is talking to His people.
God is most worthy of all. As the psalmist writes in Psalm 48: 1, "Great is the Lord,and most worthy of praise..." One of the most well known scriptures commending worthiness is in Proverbs observing a dedicated godly wife. Proverbs 31: 10, "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." The writer of Proverbs goes on to praise his wife as an example of a worthy woman because of her godly character. Proverbs 31: 30-31, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
David’s soldiers praised him. He and his followers had been forced to flee from Jerusalem due to the rebellion led by his son Absalom. David wanted to lead his troops in a counter attack against Absalom. Fearing that their leader might be killed in battle, the soldiers plead with David, reminding him of his value to the nation and his people. 2 Samuel 18: 3, "But the men said, 'You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.'” David testified to how the Lord had rescued him from his enemies. 2 Samuel 22: 4, "I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies." David knew where his help came from. Psalm 29: 11, "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace."
When you see your need for God and His grace, you feel worthy. We find that we do not deserve or earn our worthiness. When we have a desperate desire for God and His calling on our life. We know Who we are and Whose we are. We know we are a child of God and that He is our Father. 1 John 3: 1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” Genesis 1: 27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
We begin to believe Scripture. Luke 12: 6-7, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." God has special plans for us. Jeremiah 29: 11, “'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” He wants to prepare us for the life He has planned for us. Isaiah 64: 8, “Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” We want Him to mold us.
I do not believe it is a coincidence that you are reading this devotional. He is telling you that you are made in His image. You are His child. Because of Jesus dying on the cross and the Holy Spirit living in you, you are enough! You are worth more than the amount of money you have, you are worth more than the amount of friends you have, you are worth more than your education, you are worth more than your successes or failures, you are worth more than your accomplishments or lack of them. You are worth more! That’s what Jesus wants you to know today. You are worthy! You are His child! You are His beloved!