Teach Them Their Worth
Each One’s Worth
This time I’m sharing just one tip!
Take time and with purpose help your students know their worth. Show them worth by grounding them in what God says about them.
But here’s the key! This cannot be a topical Bible study in tenth grade. NO! It must be a study that is talked about and reminded of throughout life. Even old adults struggle with separating what God says from what everyone else says.
Begin by reviewing that God is fully trustworthy and that He is ALWAYS truthful. His Word is reliable. It is for the Jews and Gentiles - no exclusions. (Ps. 33:4, 18:30, 145:13 &111:7, 2 Sam. 7:28, Isaiah 25:1, Heb 3:6)
If there is one feature or lack that your student cannot reconcile with a good God, take time to study verses on the goodness of God. All exceptions will be erased as God is better known. (Ps. 107:1 & 34:8, Rom. 5:8, James 1:17)
Perhaps you will want to help your student and yourself picture what the Bible says about the world, its schemes, its attractions, and its magnetism.
1 John 2:15: Do not love the world…
Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world…
Matthew 6:24: No one can serve two masters…
John 3:16: For God so loved the world…
When ready begin looking at verses that show our worth to God. Keep in mind that your child may be looking at these verses with you but unable to apply them. Stay calm and remind each other that the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to you what God’s Word means and how you can find answers from it. (1 Cor. 2:12)
Please remember that perhaps everyone has this problem of not having a Biblical view of self. It may be a student is very glad he’s more brilliant than others, or a student who is glad she’s aways pointed to as being the best in cooking. It may be someone is dissatisfied with how she looks or is afraid to read in a group because he is the “dumbest”. Endless are the ways this problem manifests itself. But we do know that the answer to this self-worth, self-image issue is: What does God say?
Even being allowed and invited to read God’s Word to us, speaks of our self-worth. Personally, I haven’t received word from many, if any, renowned people. But the MOST renowned of time and eternity has spoken and has permitted me to hear Him. WOW! He has spoken to me. (John 10:27-28)
Verses that may help you on your search for having and teaching a Biblical view of self:
Genesis 1:26-27: we are made in His image…
Psalm 139:13-16: we are wonderfully made…
James 1:17: every perfect gift is from above…
But I fall short because of sin (Romans 3:23). This falling short is the ammunition that the enemy uses to convince us of our unworthiness. But God so loved each of us (John 3:16) and He suffered to offer us life, life eternal. (1 Peter 3:18). So our mind will need to think on Him (Phil. 2:5) The heart will need to be cleansed and surrendered (Psalm 51:10, Prov. 4:23, Prov. 23:26, Gal 2:20).
These additional verses may help with clinging to God for a clear and good picture of ourselves:
Galatians 1:3-7: The Lord gave Himself for me. He rescues me from this evil age.
Galatians 1:10: God asks me to choose between pleasing man or God.
Galatians 2:6: God does not judge by external appearance.
Ephesians 1:3-7: I am blessed with every spiritual blessing. Blameless in Christ.
Ephesians 2:6, 10: God raised us up with Christ. We are His workmanship.
Romans 3:24: We have been justified freely by His grace.
Romans 8:1-2: There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Studying this verse is very important because being in Christ is necessary for us to receive the benefit and privileges offered by God. This “in Christ” grants us the indwelling of His Spirit. His Spirit comforts us and teaches us as we read and apply the Word).
I Corinthians 1:30: God has provided us His wisdom through Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17: I’m a new creation in Christ.
Actually, many, many verses in Scripture point to our value to God as we see Him warning, protecting, providing, instructing, and encouraging us. Now that we begin to see our real worth contrasted to the world’s view of us, we must see that all that we are and have are from Him and for Him. Now we need to learn how to be faithful stewards of all the truth He has revealed to us.
Love, Becky
