No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. Psalm 75:6
Ever since I was in high school, my wife (who was my girlfriend at the time) has been telling me I worry too much about what others think of me.
Oh, there is a healthy level of concern we should have about our reputations. I believe as Christians we should be mindful of how God is represented. How many times have you seen an Ichthus on the back of the vehicle that cut you off on the freeway? Don't you just want to pull over and jerk that thing right off their car? But that wouldn't be a very Christian thing to do, would it? I guess my mother was right: two wrongs don't make a right.
The truth is - the only opinion that truly matters is God's. He is the only One worthy of judging a man or exalting him. Our concern should be about what He thinks in all we say and do.
Even though I know this, for most of my life I have been seeking the praise of other men. As an adult, people are always telling me how wonderful I am. But as a child - like most children I guess - life was full of ridicule. Unfortunately, I didn't have an environment at home that countered what the world said to me. Before long, I believed their words. Now, as a man, I am still confused about who I really am sometimes.
But God knows. And He likes me just the way I am. He wouldn't change a thing - despite what others might think. He is the only One who knows it all, and He still loves me. He doesn't accept my sin, but He always accepts me - no matter what.
Wow! How cool is that? The God of the universe thinks I'm special! I'll bet He thinks the same of you.
Thanks, Lord, for loving me - just as I am.