I have spent many years as a Christian hearing people in the church say that we are not worthy. And I get that. We don’t deserve all that God has done for us through the sacrifice of His Son. We could never earn His love or approval. God has taken those of us who are sinners and made us holy in His sight through the blood of Jesus. We surely did nothing to be worthy of His sacrifice for us. For He alone is worthy.
But I think, for me, the misconception was that I was not worthy of His love. Nothing could be further from the truth! If we were not worthy of His love, them why would He die for us?
So I decided to study that today in the Word. Here is what I found.
First, the word worthy has several different definitions, which is why I believe we confuse our understanding of worth. Worthy can mean, ” deserving effort, attention, or respect; having adequate or great merit or character; of commendable excellence or merit; having enough good qualities to be considered important, useful, etc.”
This definition of worth is based on human effort–one who has enough character or has done enough good to deserve to be important or useful. Based on this definition of worth, we are unworthy, because none of us are good enough or have done enough to deserve what God has done for us.
But the enemy is cunning. Satan knows just how to take that definition and make women feel unworthy of God’s love. That feeling of unworthiness leads many of us to lack the security and confidence that we need to run our race for Christ. I know from my own experience that when I feel unworthy and insecure, I am very ineffective in ministry. Ladies, that is exactly where the enemy wants us.
But there is another side to this word. The word worthy also means, “having sufficient worth or importance; having value.”
This definition of worth is based on who we are, not what we do.
I searched the Scriptures and tried to find an understanding that we are invaluable and unimportant and, therefore, unworthy in God’s eyes. In Genesis 32, Jacob told God that he was unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness God had shown him. The Hebrew for the word translated unworthy means “not enough, trifling; to make a measure small.” Jacob meant that all he had ever done was “not enough” or too small to deserve the kindness God had shown him. Yes, so true for all of us! But Jacob surely was not unimportant or lacking worth in God’s eyes. After all, God made him into a nation.
Job told God in chapter 40 that he was unworthy to reply to God. The Hebrew for this word means “small and insignificant.” Yes, in light of Job’s affliction and the Lord’s discourse on His sovereignty in Job’s life, he was small compared to God and insignificant in comparison to all that God is. Aren’t we all?
But that doesn’t makes us small and insignificant to Him, only in comparison to Him. Instead of looking at our smallness, we need to look at His greatness! In light of who He is, the fact that He still moved heaven and earth to make a way for us to know Him should reveal how worthy we are in His eyes!
That doesn’t mean you have done anything to deserve the love, grace, or mercy of God. It simply means that God looks at you and sees a precious child that He created and that He loves enough to send His son to take your place and pay the price for your sin.
We must view our worth in light of Jesus’ sacrifice.
But God demonstrate his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8, NIV).
We must view our worth in light of God’s care for us.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31).
The Greek word translated worthy here means “to be more valuable than; best, valuable, superior.” That’s what God says about you! I find it interesting that the Word says “So don’t be afraid.” In its context, this passage is referring to the disciples’ being sent out in ministry and evangelism. And the Lord says that they need not be afraid–not afraid to share the truth, not afraid to speak for God, not afraid to minister to the needs of others.
I am able to serve God best when I am confident of His love and approval of me–not because of what I do but because of who I am. Or better yet, because of who He is and all He has done!
Women, we each need to walk in the holy confidence of a woman redeemed and remade, anointed and appointed, saved and sent to tell the world the good news of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our salvation.
Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy. Don’t stay caught up in the latest gossip or news cycle. Don’t seek to be what the world says you should be. Instead, stay in God’s presence, seek His face, soak up His Word, and walk in His Spirit.
You are worth more. So let’s run!