Are You Worthy?

MATTHEW 10:24-39

Many struggle with identity. With insecurity, with fear, with doubt AND OVERALL FEELING LIKE WE ARE WORTHLESS! BUT We have worth and value because of Christ and the unconditional love of God the Father. Once we understand this amazing truth, we are able to live for others, just as Jesus did. We are able to persevere through difficult times because we know that redemption and salvation are costly. Following Jesus isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.

YOU SEE WE OFTEN ARE DRIVEN BY EMOTIONS, BY OUR FEELINGS AND OUR THOUGHT PROCESSES, BUT THESE ARE EVER CHANGING!

"Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not." - C.S. Lewis

We need to have a brief discussion around what it means to be worthy… And furthermore, who sets our worth or value?

Many of us, at one point or another, have felt pretty worthless in our lives. For one reason or another we have doubted who we are and what we offer to others. Or, to say it another way, we don’t feel like we bring anything valuable “to the table.” Thankfully, we have a creator He sees His creation as infinitely valuable. He knows that our “worth” is not based on what we can or cannot do. Our “worth” is not based upon how high or low our salary is… etc. We have intrinsic value because God has fearfully and wonderfully made each of us (Psalm 139) and we have eternal value based upon Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

He traded His life so we could have life.

And that’s how we measure our value in the eyes of God.

Read John 3:16

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

“God so loved the world” and that fact doesn’t change based upon anything I can or cannot do, my salary, education, or anything else. As our dear brother in Christ, C.S. Lewis once said, "Though our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not."

And that, my friends, is the foundation of our faith, from which we can dive into our passage for the day…

Main Teaching

Read Matthew 10:24-39

Matthew 10:24–39 NKJV

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

I hear a lot of talk about what is worthy and what is not. In one verse we learn that we are “worth more than many sparrows.” And in another verse we hear that, “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” As I personally try to reconcile these truths in my heart, I’m drawn to remember that at the root of it all is the unconditional love of God. The same God who gave His Son because He “So loved the world.”

God's Unconditional Love

God's unconditional love is a central theme found throughout the bible and a foundational aspect of our faith. It is the driving force behind the creation of the universe, the redemption of mankind, and the ultimate purpose of our lives. This love is not based on our performance, our goodness, or our worthiness, but rather on the very nature of God Himself.

We must understand that God's unconditional love is rooted in His very nature. The Bible tells us that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). This means that love is not merely an attribute of God, but rather it is the essence of His being. God does not simply possess love or demonstrate love; He is love. This love is not a fleeting emotion or a temporary state of mind, but rather a permanent and unchanging aspect of God's character. As the Apostle Paul writes in

Romans 8:38–39 “38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God also demonstrates His unconditional love through His actions. The most profound example of this is the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God's Son, which we read about in John 3:16. This verse reveals the depth of God's love for humanity, as He was willing to send His Son to die on the cross for our sins. As I’ve already mentioned, this sacrificial act of love was not based on our worthiness or our ability to earn it, but rather on God's desire to reconcile us to Himself and to demonstrate His love for us. He does this in spite of our rebellious sin nature.

Remember this truth; God continues to extend His forgiveness and grace to us. In Ephesians 2:4-5, Paul writes,

Ephesians 2:4-5

Ephesians 2:4–5 NKJV

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

This passage again highlights the fact that God's love is not dependent on our actions or our ability to earn it, but rather on His mercy and grace.

At some point, when we truly grasp the depth of God's love for us, it changes the way we view ourselves and the world around us. We begin to see ourselves as beloved children of God, created in His image and redeemed by His grace. This understanding of our identity in Christ leads to a greater sense of self-worth and a deeper appreciation for the value of others. As we grow in our understanding of God's love, we also become more compassionate and empathetic towards others, recognizing that they too are recipients of God's love and grace. We grow in our ability to see the intrinsic value in all people, everywhere.

The truth is, as said in 1 John 4:19, we read, "We love because he first loved us."

This verse highlights the fact that our ability to love others is directly connected to our understanding of God's love for us. As we grow in our understanding of God's love, we become more capable of extending that same love to others, even when they may not deserve it or have not earned it… And if we can get there, we can begin to understand how God is able to love us, unconditionally and faithfully. And as we all know, loving others isn’t always easy or enjoyable - in fact it may be a costly endeavor - just as it has been for God the Father.

The Cost of Redemption

The Cost of Redemption is a concept that most commonly refers to the price that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had to pay in order to save humanity from the bondage of sin and the eternal consequences that come with it. This cost was not a monetary one, but rather a sacrifice of unimaginable proportions – the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. As we explore this biblical truth we’ll shed some light on the magnitude of this cost and the love that God has for His creation.

It is essential to understand the gravity of the problem that humanity faced – the problem of sin. Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, humanity has been plagued by sin, which separates us from God and leads to spiritual death. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

This means that every single person is in need of redemption, as we are all guilty of sin and deserving of God's righteous judgment.

In order to bridge this gap between humanity and God, a perfect and sinless sacrifice was required. This is where Jesus Christ, the Son of God, enters the picture. As the only sinless person to have ever lived, Jesus was the only one capable of paying the price for our sins. Theologian John Stott, in his book "The Cross of Christ," writes, "The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be."

This substitutionary sacrifice is at the heart of the Cost of Redemption. Jesus willingly laid down His life on the cross, bearing the full weight of humanity's sin and enduring the wrath of God that we deserved. As the prophet Isaiah foretold in Isaiah 53:5

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

The pain and suffering that Jesus endured on the cross were not just physical but also spiritual, as He experienced separation from God the Father for the first time in His existence.

For Jesus the cost was immense. The pain, humiliation, and torture of the cross. For God the Father it must’ve been immeasurably painful to watch His Son endure the cross, knowing that this was the only path to eternal salvation. But these facts underscore the immense love of God for His creation and the extraordinary sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on our behalf. It is a reminder of the depth of our sin and the lengths to which God was willing to go in order to save us.

Living a Worthy Life

Living a life worthy of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us begins with understanding the depth of God's love and the cost of our redemption. But once we truly grasp the magnitude of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we cannot help but be transformed by this love.

From our thoughts and actions to our relationships and priorities to every aspect of our lives… As we put Jesus first in all things we can further understand what He’s getting at when He says, “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

There is no thing or person more worthy of our love and devotion than Jesus. And one of the key ways to live a life worthy of Jesus' sacrifice is to cultivate a deep, personal relationship with Him.

This involves spending time in prayer, reading and meditating on the Word of God, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. As we grow closer to Jesus, we will become more like Him in our character, attitudes, and actions. Then, as we become more like Jesus we begin to love more like Him as well.

This means extending grace, forgiveness, and compassion to those around us, even when it is difficult or undeserved. It also means being willing to serve others, putting their needs above our own, and seeking to be a blessing in their lives. Jesus Himself demonstrated this kind of selfless love when He washed the feet of His disciples, and He calls us to follow His example.

As believers, we have been entrusted with the message of the gospel, and it is our responsibility to share this hope with those who have not yet heard it. This can take many forms, from sharing our personal testimony with friends and family to participating in mission work or supporting ministries that spread the gospel around the world.

Jesus warned in this passage from Matthew, following Him may not always bring peace and comfort. Instead, it may lead to conflict and division, even within our own families. However, when we choose to follow Jesus despite the cost, we demonstrate our love for Him and our commitment to living a life that brings glory to His name.

The truth is, following Jesus will cost you something. You will have to lose your life to find it again. You will have to give up the things you thought were important in order to make room for that which is more important than anything else. As we pursue Christ, we will not only experience the joy and peace that come from living in God's presence but also bring honor and glory to His name.

Conclusion

God's love for us is unchanging, even when we face challenges and opposition. It is unconditional, not based on anything we can or cannot do. Our worth and value are rooted in Christ who traded his life for ours. He alone is worthy of all our praise and worship.

We also know that following Jesus won’t be easy, but the reward is worth it. The reward at the end of the journey is eternal life, salvation, and joy.

Immeasurable joy.

Abundant joy.

Eternal joy.

So, let's commit ourselves to loving God above all else, carrying our cross, and following Jesus…The only one worthy of it all.