Foundation for Good Self-Esteem; John 5-7

May the mumbling commence!

Where do we get our sense of approval – our sense of self-esteem?  I will often find myself slipping into a people pleasing mode.  Is that okay?  It is not okay when I set my sights on being a Christian.  Read from John chapter five:

"Now you have never at any time heard what he says or seen what he is like. Nor do you really believe his word in your hearts, for you refuse to believe the man who he has sent. You pore over the scriptures for you imagine that you will find eternal life in them. And all the time they give their testimony to me! But you are not willing to come to me to have real life! Men's approval or disapproval means nothing to me, but I can tell that you have none of the love of God in your hearts. I have come in the name of my Father and you will not accept me. Yet if another man comes simply in his own name, you will accept him. How on earth can you believe while you are forever looking for each other's approval and not for the glory that comes from the one God?

There is no need for you to think that I have come to accuse you before the Father. You already have an accuser – Moses, in whom you put all your confidence! For if you really believed Moses, you would be bound to believe me; for it was about me that he wrote. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I say"? (37b-47)

According to this passage, what is the key to approval and good self-esteem?  Have the love of God in your heart.  If we do not welcome the love of God into our hearts, we will try to fill our hearts with all other kinds of things – and all of this to no avail.  We might try to fill our hearts with possessions or friends or approval of our peers. 

We might even try to be the greatest experts on the Scriptures.  But, if we neglect the love of God in our lives and neglect to share that love through the way we live our lives, we will not construct a good self-esteem.  A good self-esteem is based solely on the love of God.

And this message of the love of God is something that has been around for all ages.  It is evident in the Laws that the Lord handed down to Moses.  The Laws speak of the love of God and foreshadow the coming of Jesus Christ.

Let us accept this wonderful gift of love and self-esteem built upon the approval of God through the life and work of God’s Son, Jesus.  May we follow in the pattern that Jesus has left for us.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out