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Devotional

How God Sees Us

by CAROL SCHLORFF KNOWN Identity in Christ
How God Sees Us
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" "...God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
2 Corinthians 5:17,21

I once visited Butchart Gardens, a botanical wonderland in Victoria, Canada. As I was marveling at the stunning flower displays, I was surprised to learn about its history. It used to be a limestone quarry. But thanks to the vision of one woman, Jenny Butchart, what had been an ugly piece of land was transformed into fifty-five acres of beauty.


This made me think about the work of God in our lives, especially how He looks at us. Just like Jenny Butchart was able to look past the ugliness of the quarry to see the potential of a garden, so God focuses not on what we are, but concentrates on what we will be.


Paul declares we are a “new creation.” I don’t know about you, but I rarely feel like one. More often than not I see the old and the sinful in my life. And yet God boldly says that we are already made new.


He goes even further by proclaiming us to be “the righteousness of God.” Obviously, it is not because of anything we have done, but only thanks to the work of Christ on the cross. God’s righteousness is given to us when we trust in Jesus. And yet, even though it is still a far cry from our daily experience, God declares us to be righteous.


When God looks at us, he sees us for who we are in Christ. While he’s not blind to the sin and the ugliness, that’s not his focus. He concentrates on the potential of who we will be. He sees us through the prism of what Christ has done in our lives.


Therefore, let’s never give up living and working for our Lord. God already sees the finished product, even when we doubt we will ever make it to the end. He is rooting for us, and has given us everything necessary to succeed. This not only applies to our Christian walk, but also to our ministry. The Bible gives us the ability to see past what we are to focus on what we will be.


Closing Prayer
Lord, thank you for the work you have done in my life. You have transformed me from an ugly quarry to a beautiful garden. Help me to see my life and my ministry through the prism of who I am in Christ. Help me to see myself in the same way you see me. Give me the strength and the perseverance to never give up living for you and serving you. Amen.
Question for Reflection

How would your life and ministry change if you saw yourself as God does?

Comments
Carol Schlorff
October 13, 2020

I will admit to often becoming discouraged. I have sometimes wanted to leave the ministry. But I have found that the most effective way to fight my negative thoughts is to focus on what God says about me. I am renewed in my spirit by knowing that despite being a work in progress, God already treats me as if I’m the finished product. If he doesn’t give up on me, then how can I?