Through the Bible - Ezra 7-9, Acts 6:8-7:22
Good morning,
King David's statement and challenge to his son Solomon in these weekend's devotional " Take courage and be a man"; got me thinking of what would define a Christian man or woman. What gives them value, their worth? It could be something that is in them or something that is not present in them.
The first example that I'll give you are some of the lines from the 4 Him song, "The Measure of a Man".
The Measure of a Man - 4 Him
I say the measure of a man
Is not how tall you stand
How wealthy or intelligent you are
"Cause I've found out the measure of a man
God knows and understands
For He looks inside to the bottom of your heart
And what's in the heart defines
The measure of a man.
Well, you can doubt your worth
And search for who you are
And where you stand
But God made you in His image
When He formed you in His hands
And He looks at you with mercy
And He sees you through His love
You're His child and that will always be enough
For there's more to what you're worth
Than you could ever comprehend.
You can spend your life persuing physical perfection
There is so much more
More than ever meets the ey
For God looks through the surface
And He defines your worth by what is on the inside.
Today's verse comes from 2 Corinthians 5 and gives us an idea of what is inside a Christian. They have been transformed, created anew.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.NIV
The old "self" has been replaced. Someone else should be on the throne in our lives, Christ living in us.
The old "self" has been replaced. Someone else should be on the throne in our lives, Christ living in us.
As far as what is absent, I read this statement from Karl Barth in his commentary on Romans.
"A man may be of value to another man, not because he wishes to be important, not because he possesses some inner wealth of soul, nor because of something he is, but because of what he is - not. His importance may consist in his poverty, in his hopes and fears, in his waiting and hurrying, in the direction of his whole being towards what lies beyond his horizon and beyond his power." Basically, the value of a man lies in something that is outside of, beyond him. For a Christian it is the power of Christ living in and through us and not of ourselves.
Can you think of other verses or passages that come to mind?
Read the passage in 2 Corinthians. Another verse that I considered for today's verse was also from that same passage.
2 Cor 5:12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. NKJV
Yes, it's what's in the heart that defines the measure of a man.
2 Cor 5:12-6:1
Be Reconciled to God
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
NKJV
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