Ephesians 3:8

"To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out]" Ephesians 3:8

If Paul was the only writer of the New Testament, many would consider him as, "one whom really needs to get in touch with his inner self... talk to a therapist maybe, about this self esteem issue of his". But, as we examine the scriptures, we see the apostles Peter and James also emphasize the necessity on the part of the Lord's people that they be this way... clothed with humility. They encourage us to be humble and discourage pride. God's grace is indispensable to those who abide in Christ; for God resists the proud, while He continually shows favor to those who are of humble spirit. 1 Peter 5:5 and James 4:6

From what we can see in the gospels, the apostle Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter (Matthew 10:2), is a model of godly humility. Although the Bible records only a few things about him, each scene in which he appears provides us an example of a realistic perception of self. Perhaps his example is most meaningful to those who consider themselves just ordinary Christians, those without leadership responsibilities in the church.

Like the other apostles, Andrew fulfilled his commission, going and preaching to the scattered House of Israel. Tradition indicates that Andrew preached in Asia Minor and Scythia, which were along the Black Sea and extended as far north as the Volga River. The story of his martyrdom says he was first stoned then crucified at Patras in Achaea on an X-shaped cross, commonly known as a "St. Andrew's cross." Legend holds that he hung there two days, continuing to preach the gospel until he died.

Self-esteem is an intriguing subject. On the one hand, the gospel passes the judgment upon all men that we are guilty sinners, inclined by nature to hate God and love only ourselves. To that judgment of the gospel, the proper response is not self-esteem but self-abasement. On the other hand, this gospel makes us who believe in Jesus Christ new creatures in Christ. Believers, therefore, are glorious creatures who cannot be esteemed highly enough.

As a believer, I must consider myself to be chosen by God and, therefore, as precious to God. God has loved me from eternity. And too, I must think of myself as redeemed, not with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of God's own Son in our flesh, and, therefore, as precious to the Lord Jesus Christ. I am being regenerated by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, therefore, continually a new creature in Christ. I possess the life of the risen Jesus Christ Himself. I am the temple of God.

The image of God bas been restored in me. Nothing less than this belongs to the proper Christian self-image. I am justified by faith and am accepted of God. I am not guilty; and I am no longer worthy of hell or of any condemnation. I have been adopted by God and, therefore, am a son of the God of heaven and earth and am heir of all things. I am no child of the devil. I am sanctified and, therefore, am actually good with the pure, spotless goodness of the Holy Spirit.

And my walk, my life, as the apostle says so plainly in the first couple of chapters of I Peter, is an excellent, noble walk here with Christ in my life. I am destined for glory, soul, but also in body. A proper self-esteem extends to the body of a Christian as well as the soul. I know that God in His sovereignty has so arranged my life in all its circumstances in that, "all that I am and everything that belongs to me and my circumstances has been determined by God's love for me", so that I need not be discontented about any aspect of my circumstances.

We must know or evaluate ourselves this way. Believing in the Word of God, we must believe these things about ourselves. And this is why we may and must love ourselves, even in this sense of lowliness Paul shares. When Jesus says that the second commandment of the law, likened to the first, is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," clearly He implies that we do love and esteem ourselves in Him.

In verse 8, we see that even "though" (whatever Paul was before), "this grace was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending riches of Christ! God does not care what you were prior to salvation in Christ Jesus... You are a New Creation!

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 3:9 next time.

I love you.