How To ThriveSample

How To Survive THRIVE - Physically

Day 2: Self Image

I remember growing up in Sunday School and the teachers would try to keep us in line by telling us that “God was watching”.  The truth is that it scared the bejeebers out of me, so I guess that it met the desired outcome.  At the same time I had this distorted idea of God watching.  He just wanted to see if I would mess up and if I did I was in big trouble.  

Parts of the modern evangelical church have long propagated the view that our relationship with God is transactional.  If I behave properly, God will bless me and if I behave poorly (and remember God is always watching), God will curse me.  Because most of the time I behave poorly (even the Apostle Paul would agree with that) then I picture God unhappy with me most of the time.  

A few months ago I got to watch my granddaughter participate in Soccer Camp.  She was the youngest and pretty much the smallest in her group.  She had never really played soccer before she went to soccer camp.  I watched her run around the field usually a few steps behind the older, bigger kids.  It was beautiful.  She was beautiful.  She didn’t need to perform or score 3 goals to win my approval and love.  In fact, she really couldn't do anything wrong in my view.

The truth about self image is not so much about how I see myself as it is about how I perceive that others see me.  If others see me as not measuring up to “the standard”, then I tend to believe what they say.  

How do you imagine God sees you?  Do you see Him waiting to point out your imperfections, flaws and shortcomings?  Or do you see Him as a God whose love for you is far greater than your failures, your meltdowns and your inadequacies?

The story of our text today, and I would suggest that the story of all of scripture, is that you are God’s masterpiece - you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  The beginning of a good self image is to see ourselves as God sees us.

Written by Skip Collins | uMhlanga Campus Pastor