Ok. So, yesterday we talked about how OTHERS perceive us (in case you missed it, you can read it here). Today, we’re going to look at how we view ourselves—someone just said “crap” and a few others sighed—I know, it’s tough to take an honest look at ourselves, but it’s absolutely necessary.
In many ways there’s a connection, a correlation between how we view ourselves and how others view us. Many times the way others perceive us has everything to do with the façade we create, the lies we speak, the mask we put on. And we do these things because of the way we view ourselves.
We create a façade because we don’t like the reality.
We tell lies because we’re in denial of the truth or we simply don’t want to deal with it.
We put on a mask because we don’t like who we really are.
Think about it. The pretty girl looks in the mirror and tells herself that she’s ugly. The smart kid sulks in his room all alone thinking he’s stupid. The popular girl wonders where all her friends are. The star jock thinks he isn’t good enough. The mother is convinced she’s failing as a parent. The husband doubts his ability to love his wife. The leader believes everyone is out to get her.
You see what you want. You hear what you want. You think what you want. You believe what you want. Sometimes we distance ourselves so far from the truth, so out of touch with reality, that we start to believe the façade, we believe the lies, we only see the mask.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8 NKJV
John said when we deceive ourselves the truth is not in us. Let this sink in for a moment. When we deceive ourselves, meaning when we believe the lies, the truth is not in us. Wow! How many of us have lived in this mess for far too long? How many of us have lived without the truth being in us? How many of us have allowed our mind, body, and soul to be consumed by lies?
It’s an IDENTITY CRISIS. Instead of clinging to the truths of God’s word, instead of hearing that you are a masterpiece, that you were created in his image and likeness, that you are his son or daughter, you base your existence on cultural and social standards. I need a big house. I need a nice car. I need name brand clothes. I need a skinny waist. I need a higher GPA. I need to produce big numbers. I need people to like me.
What happened to, “I need Jesus”?
Outside of Jesus we’re lost. Outside of Jesus the Bible tells us we’re simply wandering around, lost in a world of darkness (John 8:12). Outside of Jesus our eyes become blinded to the truth, blinded to reality. We lose sight of WHO we REALLY are. I Christ I am a NEW CREATION, the old is GONE, the new has COME (2 Corinthians 5:17). It doesn’t matter what others think so long as you yourself do not see the truth, so long as you don’t see who you really are.
Who do you see in the mirror? Who do you think you are?
In many ways there’s a connection, a correlation between how we view ourselves and how others view us. Many times the way others perceive us has everything to do with the façade we create, the lies we speak, the mask we put on. And we do these things because of the way we view ourselves.
We create a façade because we don’t like the reality.
We tell lies because we’re in denial of the truth or we simply don’t want to deal with it.
We put on a mask because we don’t like who we really are.
Think about it. The pretty girl looks in the mirror and tells herself that she’s ugly. The smart kid sulks in his room all alone thinking he’s stupid. The popular girl wonders where all her friends are. The star jock thinks he isn’t good enough. The mother is convinced she’s failing as a parent. The husband doubts his ability to love his wife. The leader believes everyone is out to get her.
You see what you want. You hear what you want. You think what you want. You believe what you want. Sometimes we distance ourselves so far from the truth, so out of touch with reality, that we start to believe the façade, we believe the lies, we only see the mask.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8 NKJV
John said when we deceive ourselves the truth is not in us. Let this sink in for a moment. When we deceive ourselves, meaning when we believe the lies, the truth is not in us. Wow! How many of us have lived in this mess for far too long? How many of us have lived without the truth being in us? How many of us have allowed our mind, body, and soul to be consumed by lies?
It’s an IDENTITY CRISIS. Instead of clinging to the truths of God’s word, instead of hearing that you are a masterpiece, that you were created in his image and likeness, that you are his son or daughter, you base your existence on cultural and social standards. I need a big house. I need a nice car. I need name brand clothes. I need a skinny waist. I need a higher GPA. I need to produce big numbers. I need people to like me.
What happened to, “I need Jesus”?
Outside of Jesus we’re lost. Outside of Jesus the Bible tells us we’re simply wandering around, lost in a world of darkness (John 8:12). Outside of Jesus our eyes become blinded to the truth, blinded to reality. We lose sight of WHO we REALLY are. I Christ I am a NEW CREATION, the old is GONE, the new has COME (2 Corinthians 5:17). It doesn’t matter what others think so long as you yourself do not see the truth, so long as you don’t see who you really are.
Who do you see in the mirror? Who do you think you are?
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