OF WHAT ACCOUNT IS HE?

At lunch, Garrett asked Isabelle what color his plate was.  It was red, always red to avoid a conversation or fit about it.  Isabelle answered that it was blue, knowing better, just to get under his skin.  It worked.  Garrett’s need to be right and for everyone else to know what is right was stirred, and he tattled. 

“Mama, Isabelle said my plate was blue.”  I know you know exactly the tone he said this in.

They continued with this back and forth a few more times.  Garrett started to get upset about it.  

“Garrett,” I said, “what color is your plate?”

“Red,” he said. 

“If you know your plate is red, what difference does it make what color she says it is?  You know it is red, that is the only thing that matters.”

Tell me we don’t do the same thing!  I find I especially do this when the untruth is directly about me.  I need to stand firm in who God says I am.

Why do we feel the need to defend ourselves when we know the truth?  I know I have a tendency to want to control other’s opinions of me, because I choose to place my value and acceptance there.

When Jesus was being falsely accused of crimes that would sentence Him to death He hardly spoke a word.  He did not feel the need to argue against lies.  Could you rest in what God knows is true and that He is in control of everything?

“‘Where are You from?’  But Jesus gave him no answer.  Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Are You not speaking to me?  Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?’” (Jn. 19:9-10)

The next verse is the solution to our defensiveness. 

“Jesus answered, ‘You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.’” (Jn. 19:11)

In other words, God is in control, and I trust Him for the outcome.  I am not going to let words of man shadow an illusion of control over me. 

Whenever I get caught up in what others think of me, I try to stop and ask God what He thinks of me.  I’m always pleasantly surprised!

MEDITATE ON IT

What did you do the last time someone believed something false about you?  What can you do differently the next time? 

What do you believe compels your need to control others’ opinion of you? What is stopping you from resting in God’s opinion?

How would your life or even just your day be different if you valued God’s opinion rather than man’s? 

PRAY ABOUT IT

Father God, we are so futile and confined to the physical world we live in.  We confess that we often place our value and acceptance in the hands of others instead of Your hands.  We also seek to control their perspectives instead of trusting them to You and Your work within them.  Forgive us for our finite focus.  Broaden our focus to the vast extent of Your will for us.  Give us the courage to believe You for our value and worth.  Open our eyes to see and reject the lies Satan uses to distract us from You.

LIVE IN IT

“The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

“Stop trusting in man,

who has but a breath in his nostrils.

Of what account is he?”  (Isaiah 2:22)

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)