See yourself as the Lord sees you in Christ: RIGHTEOUS!

Believers in Christ, do you look at yourself and see a reed (Simon) pushed here and there by life’s winds? Do you see yourself as unfruitful (as Abram and Sara were) no matter how much you try to be? Do you do things that make you feel that you are a sorry excuse for a believer? Then there is good news for you! 

Our Heavenly Father does not see us this way. He does not condemn us. He sees us as who/what He says we are by His grace – the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21)

Our Lord God called a man named Abram (meaning "high father") out from the land of Ur. He changed Abram’s name to Abraham (meaning father of many nations). He continued to call him that name, even though Abraham and his wife Sarah were childless and way beyond child-bearing age; even though Sarah laughed at the thought of having a child at her age. 

Abraham called himself by and answered to his God-given name. People might have laughed at him behind his back saying "how can this old man and his old and barren wife think that they can ever have kids?" Ultimately, Abraham became what our Heavenly Father said he was, and through no effort of his or Sarah's. Nothing to do with their giving to get from God who gives us all things FREELY.

Our Lord Jesus called a man named Simon (meaning reed). He changed his name to Peter (meaning rock). But for a long time, Peter still acted like a reed, bending any way that the wind blew him. He got scared as he walked on water and started to sink. He even denied Jesus three times after boasting that he would follow Christ to the death. But our Saviour never stopped calling Peter “rock” in spite of his weaknesses. He still called him “rock” - stable, solid and unshakable. Peter too did not say “ah, this name Peter is too good for me. I am no rock. I am just a reed!” 

Then came the Day of Pentecost – Peter who had been so scared of being associated with our Saviour after His arrest, preached a sermon (in public!) that got 3,000 people saved. Through him, the dead were raised to life and the sick were healed! Today, Peter is regarded as a pillar in the early church! The reed became a rock!

Believers in Christ, our Lord God is the same, yesterday today and forever. Today He calls you “righteous” and sees you as His righteousness in Christ, even though you don’t have it all together and still commit sin. Our Lord God has made you to become His Righteousness in Christ Jesus through the sacrifice of His Son as it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:21 - ”For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” It is a gift. He sees you as washed white as snow by the blood of His Son. He sees you with no sin debt, even though you still struggle with sin and addiction.

Remember 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

His Spirit transforms us as we continue to behold as in a mirror His glory. How do we behold? By His grace, we see in ourselves not our flaws and shortcomings but what God has made us to be in Christ – His righteousness.

Our Lord God sees you as one called by His name, as it is written in Jeremiah 23:6 - “In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Believers, see yourself as what our Heavenly Father says you are in Christ – His Righteousness. Like Peter and Abraham did before they saw its outward manifestation, confess and answer to your name (the righteousness of God in Christ) even though your life does not reflect this righteousness yet; even when people laugh at you and tell you “how can you say you are righteous when you still do such and such.” Keep confessing who you are in Christ. 

Remember, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” –Romans 10:10. In our Lord's time, like Abraham and Peter, you will bear fruit to His righteousness by His grace and not through any effort of yours. This is the crux of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ – justification by faith. He wants you to know that even though you actions are like that of a reed, bending at the slightest wind, He is working in you to make the rock that He has made you to be burst forth!

Believers, like Simon and Abram, you were called by God and did not decide to follow Jesus all by yourself. He foreknew us, predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, called us, justified us and glorified us, according to Romans 8: 29-30. Nothing to do with us; all to do with our Saviour Jesus. He will finish the good work that He started. His gift of no condemnation makes us go and sin no more.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.