The egotist, narcissist, and others of like kind may choose to skip this article since they have no shortage of self-esteem anyway. However, millions of others may need some assurance that they are important just the way they are, absent the sin issue of course.

“What are people, that you should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often?” (Job 7:17 NLT)

“what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” (Psalms 8:4 NLT)

“O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?” (Psalms 144:3 NLT)

“For in one place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him?” (Hebrews 2:6 NLT)God loves mankind. Read the remainder of Hebrews, chapter two and see the extent of His great love for us.

Millions of people though are always trying to measure up to others. It may be through financial means, looks, status, possessions, and many other reasons. When reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) there is one thing that quickly jumps off the pages. Jesus loved (still does) people. It made no difference to Him if they were illiterate, educated, religious, non-religious, respected in the community, not respected in the community, sickly, physically detesting, etc.

Jesus has not changed one iota.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

He loves you and me, and it doesn’t matter who we are, where we live, the color of our skin, how much money we have or don’t have, if we’re ugly or pretty, fat or thin, bald or not, etc. It doesn’t matter. He loves us just the way we are.

He loves us if we live in a palace, in a prison, in an alley, or a nice suburb. He loves us if we are a debutante, a prostitute, a financier, a beggar, a ball player, a prisoner, a soldier, a policeman, a teacher, a janitor, etc. He loves all people, and not just as a group. He loves you and me … INDIVIDUALLY.

“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7 NLT)

For those who feel they need to measure up to others I ask, “Why?” God made you the way you are (excluding the sin issue), and He loves you just the way you are. If you are a child of God, you are a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords. If you are not a child of God, you can be by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.

We all need to make this thing with God very personal. He has made it personal. For example, many years ago someone gave this illustration with John 3:16. They said to insert your own name. I’ll use my name as an example.

“For God so loved GRANT, that he gave his only begotten Son, that IF GRANT believeth in him GRANT should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn GRANT; but that GRANT through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) I added verse 17 to continue the thought.

Now insert your name in place of mine. Wouldn’t this be a great method of reading some of the Bible? Of course it would! Try it and see just how personal it gets. Don’t you think God wrote His Word to make it personal? He most certainly did.

Granted, sometimes He is speaking to a nation, but many times He is speaking to many different types of people.

Two other examples:

“For GRANT has sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

“GRANT, Come unto me, you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

There is no need to even think about measuring up to other people, when the God of Heaven has made His love for us so very personal. Regardless of whom you are and your situation in life, God loves you and knows you personally. Even many Christians have forgotten that.

Maybe you’re shy and have no friends, because you don’t think you measure up to other people. Notice the following verses.

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)

That friend who is closer than a brother is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2:23)

Abraham was a friend of God because he believed God, and in believing God, God clothed him with His own righteousness. He will do the same for any of us.

If we are a child of God, we should never be ashamed of our heritage. Let us accept ourselves for who we are, and if there is work to be done (there always is), let God mold us into the person He wants us to be.

The earthly things don’t matter, and that is where we are often trying to measure up to others. Only the spiritual will last for eternity. So, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2 NIV)

Grant Phillips

How many times have those who really want to change their attitude and mental lifestyle asked themselves that question? How many times have we tried over and over to be a better person? Even many who do not know Jesus as their own personal Savior would like to be better than what they are. Unless we are a narcissist with an ego problem we want to be kinder, more loving, more patient … just a better person than what we see in the mirror.

We cannot change ourselves, at least for the long-term. Why is that? Could it be because the change needs to take place in an area of our being that only God can ‘fix?’ Legitimate change must be from the heart of man, and only God can change a heart.

Those without Jesus as Savior must come to Him first, in order for any change to be made that is worthwhile. Millions try to accomplish this on their own, or they serve the many gods of this world hoping for a change, but it never comes. All need to come to Jesus in child-like faith to be born again, trusting Him and Him only. Those who do that are on the road to an exciting new life.

Peace fills the vacuum of fear, and fear is no more. Hate and indifference is replaced with Godly love. Does this happen overnight? No, not while in these earthly bodies, but the transformation begins immediately. Jesus takes up residence in the new born-again believer by His Spirit and strengthens our spirit. He nourishes it and guides it along the right path, and we grow a little each day. The change, the permanent change, is taking shape. One day when we’re with Him in Heaven, the change will be complete.

What about Christians, true Christians that have become stale? Why aren’t they feeling the warmth of God’s presence? Maybe they have stepped away from the heat source.

I was raised in an era that heat for our home in the winter months came from something called a fireplace. Generally speaking, fireplaces today are a luxury item. Back then they were a necessity of keeping warm or freezing to death. I remember many times I had to go out in the cold and refill the coal bucket with coal for the fireplace and the pot-bellied stove. One lesson I learned early on was this; when I was near the fire, I stayed warm, but when I moved away from the fire, I got cold. Hmmmm. Profound, isn’t it? Maybe to change our life for the better we just need to draw closer to the heat source, the fire.

Many Christians today are wandering away from the heat source that their spirits need for warmth. Growth is stagnated because cold, especially extreme cold freezes everything into place. Read of the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3 and notice how many had grown cold in heart because they were away from the fire and embracing the cold flagpole of rebellion against God.

How can we, as children of God who need a new direction in life, return to the warmth of our Savior’s embrace? I’ve said this a thousand times (figuratively), but I must repeat again that the Lord has given us very important tools for growth. They are (1) the Holy Spirit the moment we are saved, (2) His Word, the Bible, (3) prayer, and (4) the fellowship of other Christians. If we do not make use of these, we get cold, but when they are a serious part of our everyday life, we stay warm and cozy in His presence.

Jesus made it clear in many Scripture passages that He would not leave us alone to flounder on our own. Following is just one example.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:15-21 NIV)

So, can we change? Not on our own, but we can be changed by the working of Almighty God in our lives. We just need to do what He says and trust Him. Are you afraid of failing? Don’t be. I fail all the time, but our God never fails, and that, is what we must depend on. Call on Him, and He will make a change you’ll cherish forever.