Category: Value

Be Valued

Because He is the Good Shepherd, I am valued. “‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’” John 10:11 (ESV) Your value is not determined by your portfolio. Your value is not determined by your performance. Your value is not determined by your personality. Your value is determined by what God has done on your behalf. Before you could do anything with God or for God, in His mercy and grace, God decided what to do with you and for you. “‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’” Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV) Your value was established before you were born. Then, God provided a tangible demonstration and validation of your value when He allowed Jesus to die in your place. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 ESV). You are valued because God made you valuable! Is the Lord your shepherd? Have you allowed Him to be the shepherd and overseer of your soul? Now think about your value in God’s economy. You are His treasure. Look around! Do you see other people in your daily routine? Guess what? God values them, too. Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

Tags Devo

Love Obedience Value

Loving Your Neighbor

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.” James 2:8 (ESV) We are by nature self-absorbed, self-centered, and self-focused. When anything happens around us our first question is: How will this affect me? In many ways, we act as though the earth really does rotate around us. The reality of our fallen nature pops up from time to time like a groundhog trying to catch a glimpse of daylight. Jesus acknowledges the presence of our self-love. We truly love ourselves. As one of my colleagues would often say, “Sometimes you just have to be good to yourself!” We have no problem being good to ourselves do we? We value comfort. We value pleasure. We value looking good and feeling good and sleeping good. As we begin viewing others from God’s perspective, we will begin to value others the way God values them. The resulting choice will be to love others as we love ourselves. In other words, we will begin to treat others the way we want to be treated. We will love others with the same kind of love that we desire to receive. James identifies that we are doing right when we love others as we love ourselves. Longing to do right is not enough. Putting our faith in action by loving others brings honor to God. Do you love others as much as you love yourself? Ouch! That’s a painful question. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Love Obedience Value

Loving Your Neighbor

God's Economy Value Worth

Redefining Wealth

“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?” James 2:5-7 (ESV) What is your definition of rich? As you view those in your circles, whom would you identify as rich? In our materialistic culture, we tend to rank wealth based on the acquisition of possessions or the accumulation of exorbitant funds. If only we could operate from God’s perspective. God defines richness based on faith and not funds. In God’s economy, the poor in the eyes of the world are made rich in faith and inherit the eternal riches of God treasure by faith in Jesus. God is the equalizer. God elevates the poor. God can also easily dissipate the rich in the eyes of the world. Maybe we just need to reflect on life from God’s perspective. Maybe we need to contemplate what true wealth is. You can be rich as far as the world’s standards are concerned and yet be destitute in God’s economy. Forsaking God’s offer of eternal life would keep a person in total desperation regardless of his or her earthly assets. Calculate the value you currently place on others. Do you allow their social status to dictate how you treat them? Do you allow their appearance to formulate your view of them? What if you began to view others from God’s perspective? Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Cross God's Perspective Value

Seeing Others Through the Cross

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date March 15, 2014
55 Comments on Seeing Others Through the Cross

“For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet,’ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”James 2:2-4 (ESV) The corporate worship setting is sacred. When we gather with fellow believers to express our love to God in corporate worship, we are obeying God and demonstrating a reverence for His glory. The worship environment is conducive to encouraging each other and edifying the body of Christ. However, the corporate setting for worship can also be an environment where discrimination seeps in. Making a judgment about one’s appearance based on their attire is condescending to the very one Christ died for. For us to give preferential treatment to those endowed with financial prowess would be tragic in the eyes of God. For us to consider withholding our love, affirmation, acceptance, and inclusion of those less fortunate would break the heart of God. We become the judges when we start ranking human beings and attaching varying levels of worth based on externals. Preferential treatment misrepresents the character of God. We need to embrace God’s perspective on those He created and sent His Son to die for. God took the initiative to establish our value through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Every person matters to God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to place the same value on others that God does. We are to see others through the saving work of Jesus on the cross. Is there anyone you are currently looking down on? Have you minimized the value God places on others? Let’s be reminded of where we were when God found us in our sin. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Love Obedience Value

Loving Your Neighbor

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.” James 2:8 (NIV) We are by nature self-absorbed, self-centered, and self-focused. When anything happens around us our first question is: How will this affect me? In many ways, we act as though the earth really does rotate around us. The reality of our fallen nature pops up from time to time like a ground hog trying to catch a glimpse of daylight. Jesus acknowledges the presence of our self-love. We truly love ourselves. As one of my colleagues would often say, “Sometimes you just have to be good to yourself!” We have no problem being good to ourselves do we? We value comfort. We value pleasure. We value looking good and feeling good and sleeping good. As we begin viewing others from God’s perspective, we will begin to value others the way God values them. The resulting choice will be to love others as we love ourselves. In other words, we will begin to treat others the way we want to be treated. We will love others with the same kind of love that we desire to receive. James identifies that we are doing right when we love others as we love ourselves. Longing to do right is not enough. Putting our faith in action by loving others brings honor to God. Do you love others as much as you love yourself? Ouch! That’s a painful question. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Economy Value Worth

Redefining Wealth

“Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?” James 2:5-7 (NIV) What is your definition of rich? As you view those in your circles, whom would you identify as rich? In our materialistic culture, we tend to rank wealth based on the acquisition of possessions or the accumulation of exorbitant funds. If only we could operate from God’s perspective. God defines rich based on faith and not funds. In God’s economy, the poor in the eyes of the world are made rich in faith and inherit the eternal riches of God treasure by faith in Jesus. God is the equalizer. God elevates the poor. God can also easily dissipate the rich in the eyes of the world. Maybe we just need to reflect on life from God’s perspective. Maybe we need to contemplate what true wealth is. You can be rich as far as the world’s standards are concerned and yet be destitute in God’s economy. Forsaking God’s offer of eternal life would keep a person in total desperation regardless of his or her earthly assets. Calculate the value you currently place on others. Do you allow their social status to dictate how you treat them? Do you allow their appearance to formulate your view of them? What if you began to view others from God’s perspective? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Cross God's Perspective Value

Seeing Others Through the Cross

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date March 15, 2010
55 Comments on Seeing Others Through the Cross

“Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4 (NIV) The corporate worship setting is sacred. When we gather with fellow believers to express our love to God in corporate worship, we are obeying God and demonstrating a reverence for His glory. The worship environment is conducive to encouraging each other and edifying the body of Christ. However, the corporate setting for worship can also be an environment where discrimination seeps in. Making a judgment about one’s appearance based on their attire is condescending to the very one Christ died for. For us to give preferential treatment to those endowed with financial prowess would be tragic in the eyes of God. For us to consider withholding our love, affirmation, acceptance, and inclusion of those less fortunate would break the heart of God. We become the judges when we start ranking human beings and attaching varying levels of worth based on externals. Preferential treatment misrepresents the character of God. We need to embrace God’s perspective on those He created and sent His Son to die for. God took the initiative to establish our value through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Every person matters to God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to place the same value on others that God does. We are to see others through the saving work of Jesus on the cross. Is there anyone you are currently looking down on? Have you minimized the value God places on others? Let’s be reminded of where we were when God found us in our sin. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Good Shepherd I am sayings Value

Valued by the Shepherd

“‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’” John 10:11 (NIV) Your value is not determined by your portfolio. Your value is not determined by your performance. Your value is not determined by your personality. Your value is determined by what God has done on your behalf. Before you could do anything with God or for God, in His mercy and grace, God decided what to do with you and for you. Your value was established before you were born. Then, God provided a tangible demonstration and validation of your value when He became man. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NIV) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV) “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:21 (NIV) Is the Lord your shepherd? Have you allowed Him to be the shepherd and overseer of your soul? Now think about your value in God’s economy. You are the apple of God’s eye. You are His treasure. Look around! Do you see other people in your weekly routine? Guess what? God values them, too. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Good Shepherd Jesus Value

Measuring Your Value

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (NIV) Because He is the Good Shepherd, you are valued. Your value is not determined by your portfolio. Your value is not determined by your performance. Your value is not determined by your personality. Your value is determined by what God has done on your behalf. Before you could do anything with God or for God, in His mercy and grace, God decided what to do with you and for you. Your value was established before you were born. God knew you before He formed you in your mother’s womb (Jer. 1:5). God chose to provide a tangible demonstration and validation of your value by becoming man (John 1:1,14). Is the Lord your shepherd (Ps. 23)? Have you allowed Him to be the shepherd and overseer of your soul? Now think about your value in God’s economy. You are the apple of God’s eye. You are His treasure. Look around! Do you see other people in your weekly routine? Guess what? God values them, too. Communicate God’s love to others. Show them how much the Good Shepherd loves them by emulating His personal touch. Slow down and show how much you care about others. Let them see the Shepherd’s heart inside of you. God values those you interact with each day. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Jesus Lost Sheep Value

Valuing People

“Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’” Luke 15:3-7 (NIV) People matter to God. Until you value what God values, you won’t see what God sees. God sees people where they are and where they could be in Christ. God values people so much that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). Why would the Creator of the universe value the rebellious and fallen people He created? Why would God be so compassionate toward those who are disconnected and defiant? Jesus portrayed the willingness to leave the ninety-nine sheep in order to go after the one lost sheep. The one lost sheep is just as valuable to the owner as the ninety-nine that are safe in the open country. The shepherd is willing to risk his own life in order to go after the one sheep. Once the sheep is found, the shepherd returns and invites his friends and neighbors together to rejoice in the rescued runaway. When one sinner repents, there is more rejoicing in heaven over that one sinner than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need to repent. One sinner reconciled to God produces a celebration in heaven that earth cannot compete with. God values people. What if you began to view people the way God does? How would the next person you meet benefit from your new perspective? People matter to God! Do they matter to you? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor