Intrinsic Value

Being made in the image of God means that I have intrinsic value. I am valuable beyond measure just for who I am. I am inestimably wonderfully fashioned.

This is a difficult reality to internalize although I can look at another person and recognize their intrinsic value. When one of my eighteen-month-old children would sleep peacefully, I could look at him and hold him in the highest regard and value--not for anything that he was doing or would do, but just for who he is. When he would wake up, turn, and smile at me in recognition, I would be completely delighted by this person. A very useless person by our standards of function and purpose. But I was not delighted in his abilities or performance, just in him... who he is.

On the other hand, without a deep sense of intrinsic value in myself, I have developed many false-self ways to try to be or feel valuable-- most of them having to do with performing well or being approved of by others. Finding value in externals rather than from the intrinsic wonder of who I am. Somehow, when it comes to me, I measure my value by accomplishment, status, role, successes, etc.

There is a hole in my heart that says, "I'm nothing in and of myself." This hole has bee carved out by a broken, deceived world and by the enemy's lies. I have bought in and busied myself trying to fill this hole with external "evidence" of my someone-ness.

Yet Scripture declares my intrinsic value in no uncertain terms:

Made in the image of God

Bride of Christ

Treasured

Delighted In

Seated with Christ

Chosen

Loved as the Father loves the Son

Perhaps the greatest declaration of my intrinsic value is found in these words:

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

While we were ignoring and turning our backs on God, He valued and wanted us enough to pay an unimaginable price. Intrinsic value! I actually am that valuable!

That same truth has been emphasized by the Spirit who descended and declared over Jesus: "This is my beloved Son..." The Spirit is still coming and resting on us with the same declaration-- "beloved son, beloved daughter." In this way He is actively pouring the love of God into our hearts in order that we might internalize and experience our intrinsic value.

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[Orflin G. Champion]

I wish you well.