WHY SHOULD   FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST   MAJOR ON SELF-ESTEEM?

Bill Meuhlenberg of Culture Watch raised the question, ‘Do we need, in Australian churches, numerous seminars to strengthen our evaluation of our selves?   Is our personal estimate deficient?    We contrast with believers from persecuted churches, who are driven to jungle with out food, water, shelter, protection from malaria and amoebic dysentery or typhoid, see many loved ones dying, yet strongly trust in their Lord.    They may despair of natural state of affairs, yet they hold on to their exalted LORD.    Or should we concentrate on the One, Who is our Rescuer, our Redeemer and Son of the living God?   Culture Watch provoked searching thought.

If he has given me eternal life, and I shall never perish neither shall any man pluck me out of His hand, I possess the greatest possible gift of unending life, and no one can wrench me from my Father’s grasp,   I  am spiritually opulent and secure.   

Isaiah described Him as ‘Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace’ and I possess this illustrious Friend of sinners.     These are my title deeds to Deity, linkage with God as my heavenly father and enveloped in unbroken peace.    He elevated me.   

Christ has clothed me with all authority, equipped me with His power, bestowed on me his might, granted the right to rule, released me into His liberty , to exercise jurisdiction in His Name.    These are elements of the Greek word ’Paradidomi’ for authority.    I am uniquely robed and so prepared to serve the living God.     How I regard HIM.     

My Lord assured me that ‘His presence would go with me and He would give me peace.’ I shall never be alone, but enjoy the attendance of the eternal God as a wife enjoys her husband nearby.        I learned this in WW11 in the Sahara Desert away from our hospital.    I practiced daily His presence.     Never alone!   No human substitute for His presence could fill this void.   

On that first Palm Sunday our Lord rode triumphantly into Jerusalem as they cried ‘Hosanna, blessed is HE who comes in the Name of the Lord.    ’Hosanna’   means salvation and be propitiated.    If the Lord of glory makes peace with the Father, that is makes us right with Him, satisfying all the   invincible Father demanded, then I can only praise Him.      His Calvary work was adequate for my redemption.     I am truly reconciled to Him.     Oh, what peace!

‘According to His abundant mercy he has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled,   that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.     I Peter 1:3,4 The Father marvelously raised His beloved Son from the grave, to give us new life, a thriving hope and an imperishable heritage which Will endure eternally.     I regard the Son’s elevation as the activator which lifted me to the highest heaven.   

He did more than that.    ‘We are now kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.’ V5 Our all-knowing Lord calculated all that would make up the warp and woof of our lives; and supply the spiritual energy to keep us and the trust to   rest in Him.    I highly regard His omniscience ( His all-knowing ), as the secret of His keeping power.    We rightly esteem Him highly.   

No language details the rejoicing and glory of being in my dear Lord: nor can any assess the ultimate, perfect joy of my salvation.    Our mind had been set on false hopes of selfish, inflated status, instead of My Lord’s magnificent Person and rescue.     Let us concentrate on our Lord’s perfect deliverance.   

 Peter expressed it well: ‘I rest in joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls.’    v9

 I relax securely in my high estimation of the supremacy of my exalted Lord and Saviour.

I am secure in His strong embrace.     Truly, he leads me beside still waters.      I am content!