I was flipping through some videos and came across one where there was a table on a sidewalk with a sign hanging on it. It said, “Read a secret, leave a secret.” One young lady reached in the fishbowl filled with papers and began reading what someone else shared. It was written by another lady. She wrote, ‘Ever since I was young, my dad would tell me that I would never find love because of who I am. My first serious boyfriend told me the same thing when he broke up with me. Now I’m afraid to date. I feel unwanted and unworthy of love.’” The girl reading the secret broke down in tears, looked in the camera and said, “I wish I knew who this was. I would be her friend and love her. Everyone deserves to know love.” It was a sad video to watch, but also a reality that so many people face.
In Matthew 13, Jesus is sharing several parables. He tells one where a person finds a treasure in a field. He then buries it again, sells all he has to purchase the field. He also tells one of the pearl of great price is found. The person who finds it, sells all they have and purchases the pearl. In each of these instances, I always thought we were the ones who found the great treasure of Jesus, but in context with the other parables, it’s actually the other way around. You and I are the great treasure and the pearl of great price. Jesus gave up everything to pay the price for our sin because He values us so greatly. As 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “You were bought with a price.”
The next time you hear those voices that tell you you’re worthless, unworthy or unloved, fight back those lies with the Word of God. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT). Take out “we” and “us”, and replace it with “I” and “me”. You are a masterpiece created by God. You are worthy of Him giving up everything so that you can be with Him. You are recreated, a new creation even. You are called and have a purpose that only you can fulfill. The words and lies you hear are designed to prevent you from being who you were created to be. Rebuke those lies. Let go of them. They are not what God says about you. He knows you better than anyone and He says you are loved, you are worthy and you are worth more than you can imagine.
Photo by Isi Parente on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 