bless·ed are

My professor asked us three times, "who are you?"
Write down the first thing that comes to mind.

It's hard to express, but for me I often look to others to see how "good" I am, how great or not so great life is, or how valuable my life is. Time & time again this keeps coming up as something I feel is wrong & really don't like at all. Am I called to compare myself to others for worth? No, I'm not. Yet - after the Fall, our relationship with God was no longer perfect but fractured so now who we tend to look at for value or simply "to feel good about ourselves" is the face of those around us. At least that is the case for me. For others it may be  looking to pleasure, possessions, status, ministry, knowledge, getting things done, vanity, etc...

There are so many things that distract me from looking at the face of God in Jesus Christ and finding my identity there & saying I am yours. I am your beloved; this is who I am and that is why I have worth. What people think or what I do, or what I have - these things are constantly changing. But God's unconditional love for me, for all of us, before we were even in our mothers womb, that never changes. (Romans 5:8)

Fully redeemed, yet being restored. "It's time to chip away at the sense of dissatisfaction that accompanies comparison." Thank God my identity is in Him and not in others! Really. I hope this truth brings you hope today, but I also hope you're led to reflect and ask yourself who you are. As Prof. Clark (a favorite and so wise professor at Moody) always says, "Who you are is because of Whose you are." Whose are you?

As the Beatitudes show us, what our culture tells us is ideal in being the "perfect" person & having the best life, God turns upside down. So, I'll end with this passage & pray it speaks life & truth every person who reads it, in a personal way through the Holy Spirit.

"Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

      for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

     for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,  

     for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

     for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

     for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers.

      for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:1-10

Clearly, I still struggle with this & may be struggling for a while. But God is with me - I find hope in that. As I'm thinking this through and wresting, I write because there may be someone who reads this that may be struggling too & I want you to know that you are not alone. As the body of Christ, I'm with you; we need each other.