The Passage: Nehemiah 1:5
The Point: A lower view of us
We not only need the right view of God; we need the right view of ourselves. I think it’s safe to say that having the right view of these two things can be a struggle. One major reason we struggle is that we have placed ourselves too high so we can’t reach low enough to lift up the Lord. Nehemiah labeled himself as God’s “servant.” This was why he was able to have such empathy and compassion for God’s people and God’s city. He took RESPONSIBILITY for God’s people, but his RELIANCE was not in himself. It wasn’t about him; it was about the One he was serving. Our culture tells us if we work harder and get smarter, then we’ll get what we want. It’s all based on us. When this is our perspective, where does God’s compassion toward us come in? The answer is simple ― it doesn’t.
If you think your kids are godly because you’re an amazing parent and not because of God’s grace, then it’s going to be hard to show compassion toward those who have a drifting child. If you think you’re financially wealthy because of your hard work and not because God has been gracious to you, then it’s going to be hard to have compassion for someone living in poverty. The more you are the author and perfecter of the things around you, the more it becomes about you and not the God of all things.
This is how we are naturally bent. We want to be the masters of our fate and the captains of our soul. But unfortunately, that’s not how it works. In fact, God has given us everything we have! This is who we joyfully serve. We don’t own our possessions. We don’t own our bank accounts. They are all given by Him, for Him, and because of Him. He gives us a role for His glory and our benefit. Today, let’s reflect on who we are and have the right view of ourselves.
Processing:
- What do your actions tell you about your view of yourself?
- What do your thoughts tell you about your view of yourself?
- What do your prayers tell you about your view of yourself?
Planning:
- What are some truths about yourself that you need to pray about this week?
- Is there a tangible step that you need to take to fix your perspective?
- Whom do you need to tell?