Self-worth.
Over the past couple of weeks my wife, Anna, and I have been very busy. We have spent time volunteering, my parttime job, and appointments of all kinds. There are never enough hours in the day. Sometimes nothing we do turns out right and we feel that our actions and efforts to do good are useless and nothing we do turns out. Furthermore, the mistakes we make and the good we try to do go unappreciated.
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna.
I give the Devil no credit or glory, but I do acknowledge his influence in the world of good and bad in human beings. The devil is a liar and will tell you the good you do is wrong and unappreciated. Nothing you do is really important to God or other people. The Devil can take the joy from your experience of serving others and feeling the love of Jesus in your life. All work is to no avail. The bad we do is encouraged. Beware of the leaven – that is, the hypocrisy – of the Pharisees. Sin to the Devil is pleasure at all costs. The message of the devil is that we are worthless and there is no reason not to take the pleasure of sinful acts. The message is a lie.
Jesus calls us friends. When a person hears the lies of the Devil remember that even though the Devil says you are useless, you are something to Jesus. You are loved . The Devil will tell you that we are not, but you are loved.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Every soul created by the Holy Spirit is important. Our lives are full of the false messages of the Devil. We have it in politics and our personal relationships.
The message of the Devil is a lie.
What is the solution?
Love!
Love is a habit. If God is love, then He is also in the habit of loving us. We are loved. The message of the Devil is just the opposite. You are not a sparrow.
Mother Teresa’s “Anyway” poem ends by saying: “The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway.” You are much greater in God’s eyes than a sparrow.
The habit of love is something that you do over and over again. The lies of the Devil are a habit too. Faith is strengthened by love. We can’t listen to the lies. We have everything to gain by habit of loving God and others as ourselves. The devil will still lie but love always comes through.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please pray for peace in the Ukraine. Also pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray, in addition, for all the recent hurricane victims.
