Most people, myself included, want to be valued, respected, accepted and known. I have often sought my value in my characteristics, titles, positions or things I do.

In our society, we are schooled to do this from an early age. We learn what pleases others, what others esteem or value; and we tend to pattern ourselves after that. We work to earn and build our worth as perceived others.

This principle of seeking our value and identity in the valuation of us by others is a force at work in our life. There are times we may be aware of it, and other times that it is a subtle undercurrent in our life. We all want to be effective and contributing to our society, families and so on. But at times, this desire to achieve to help, to grow, to learn, can become confused with who we are and the concept of our worth.

This drive can be at work in our lives, even as believers in God, and active members in the fellowship of believers.

My Journey
I confess, I participated in this “value achieving cycle” both knowingly and unknowingly. Throughout my youth, my worth was communicated to me by my parents and others in my circle of life. Most of these “valuations”  had to do with my: physical appearance; scholastic achievements in terms of grades and various honors, titles and positions; and with whom I was associated.

As a young professional, I pursued becoming  a master teacher in order to define myself and increase my value. ( I have to say, that I loved my work and the students ). However, once I stepped on that wheel it was difficult to get off.

During the first few years of my teaching profession, I learned about having a genuine relationship with God. I intellectually understood the truths about God’s love for me, but I was still running on that wheel of self – producing value. I became a follower of Jesus, however I later realized that I still had that misunderstanding of my identity and value. I merely changed the arena (from work to church) in which I sought my own “self – generated value.”

But God is a loving Father, His reputation and honor does not stand or fall based on my achievements. He has worked patiently with me through the years to reveal to me who I am “becoming in Him” since the day I said “Yes” to the salvation Jesus offered.

Slowly and patiently, at levels I could understand, God began to uncover my faulty value system, and to  reveal to me my true identity and value in Him. Seeking self- value in things I have done or the status I have gained in the eyes of men and women, had blinded me to seeing God’s value and identity for me.

Knowing Who You Are in the Eyes of God Is Everything
If we meditate, humbly and intentionally, on truths from God’s Word about who we are in Him and His value for us, it is transforming.

These truths are throughout the scripture. I want to share some of the references to these truths with you for your further consideration.

The True Reveal
In Christ Jesus we have these identities that reveal God’s value of us. This “valuing by God” is real, even if we do not perceive it. My perception does not change truths of God..

I am a child of the living God, John1 :12-13
I am a partaker in God’s divine nature, 2 Peter 1:3-4
I am a temple for the Spirit of God,1 Corinthians 6:19
I am a member of the Household of God, Hebrews 3:6
I am a masterpiece of God, hand-crafted by Him,  Eph. 2:10
I am a treasure chest of God, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
I am the aroma of Christ spreading the fragrance of His life and victory, 2 Corinthians 15-16
I am holy and blameless before God in Christ, Eph. 1:4-7; Hebrews 10:14
I am the righteousness of God in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24
I am a vessel of honor in the house of God, 2 Timothy 2:21
I am a personal Ambassador of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
I am a royal priest of God, 1 Peter 2:9
I am a friend of Jesus, John 15:15; Romans 4:3-5
I am a victor in Christ, Romans 8:37

It Is True
These statements declare the truth about who I am and who you are in Christ. Each truth reveals our identity in Christ, but also how esteemed and valued we are by God. The fact that I am hand-crafted by God, or that He makes me a partaker of His very nature, speaks volumes as to the depth of His love and valuing of me/us.

There are other similar truths in the scriptures that are not referenced here, and they also reveal who we are, what we now have in Jesus, and what we are empowered by Jesus to do.

I listen intently to these truths that Jesus speaks over me through His Word. There are days that my past, my relationships, my experiences, my insecurities, social media and my failings speak another message of who I am and what my value is. Reading these truths of God ground me.

Proof that God Values Us
A favorite scripture that always brings me back to a right mindset about my value and identity is stated  in 1 Peter 1:18-19.

• For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Look at all the “valuing” in this passage:

God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life – the eternal all majestic God, redeemed me/us from an empty living, that is a life of not knowing our true identity, value and purpose. He deliberately planned to redeem us from the cycle of creating our own identity, and/or from being shaped into the mold of the world’s identities.

God redeemed That is, God bought us out of the emptiness and darkness of the kingdom of this world and brought us into His light and refuge.  Do we really know what and who we have been ransomed from?  We have been bought out of enslavement to sin, darkened understanding of who we are, out of an unrealized relationship with the prince of darkness, and out of alienation in relationship with God. Colossians 1:13-14 details this:

• “He (God) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

God redeemed us. The ransom price, the buyback price, is the life blood of Jesus, the Son of God. In a sense, God rescued His kidnapped children, not with millions of dollars, or gold or jewels, but with the blood of Jesus, the Son of God. This is our value. Our identity is wrapped up in this ransom price and great love that God behind it. This is a truth that requires prayerful thought.

Closing Reflections:

• What/who is the source of my identity and value? Is it me; my achievements; my status among people; my relationships,; my connections; my reputation; or, is God and my relationship with Him the basis of my identity and worth?
• Re-think who you are. Each day, read one of the identity scriptures presented in this article and ask God to reveal to you what each truth means for your life.