"The shepherd didn't go to the hills to find the sheep because it was bleating pitifully. He went because it was valuable."
-Malcolm Smith
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Ps 8:4-5
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than Elohim,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
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Love the Malcolm Smith quote!!! I love that God finds me to be valuable, instead of some pathetic sinner, lost and helpless in my wormhood!! That perspective, misses the point, and the heart of God.......when you see it as 'aren't we pitiful' you can't see the BIG BIG heart of God, and how much He wants unity and relationship, because you think it's all about a Holy God verses evil fallen man. It keeps the focus on good vs. evil instead of life!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, good find, I may just have to quote that one from time to time!!
Thanks for this. I have struggled with "worm theology" in recent years. It is hard to find that balance between recognizing God's holiness/our sinfulness vs. His love and grace toward us.
ReplyDeleteI always cringe when I hear Christians stating that we are "worthless". It is so not true. We are created in the image of God, and one day will be presented to Him as eternal trophies of His grace. The price paid for our salvation was immeasurable. Unworthy, always. Worthless, never. Even one human soul is priceless:
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
(Matt. 16:26)
Grace to you.
How can we be worms? We DIED and Christ Lives in us! We are NEW CREATIONS.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, our bodies, our thoughts, our performance are NOT the issue. Our, need I say it, IDENTITY is the issue.
We have been in-Christed and He has tabernacled in US.
Even at our wormiest, we are not worms. We are NOT sinners saved by Grace.
How can we fly like butterflies if we live from worm mentalities?
Our dead old man is not still walking around; he didn't come out the other side of the cross. The only thing that is being renewed is our mind, our soul, our psuche. And she needs to listen to the Spirit; He is her husband and He will teach her.
Worms...humph. ;)
Wow, everybody, doesn't this little quote speak so much?! Yesterday I was 'coincidentally' listening to what I think was the very same message from Malcolm Smith that I had heard a year ago when I first posted this. (At the time yesterday, I didn't realize that).
ReplyDeleteIn that message, Malcolm also brought up the parable of the lost coin. The woman was looking for the coin because it was valuable to her.
This also reminds me of the parable of the pearl of great price and the treasure hidden in a field. I've posted about those before, and perhaps I'll do some more reposting! In short, the pearl was very valuable, as was the treasure in the field.
I think those parables speak volumes to us about just how much we're loved and valued by God!