Set Free From Measuring Up

INTRODUCTION: THE PRESSURE TO MEASURE UP

We are tempted every day—no matter who we are—by the trap of comparison. I call it a trap because, a lot of times, it’s happening in our minds/hearts before we even realize it.

If you’re a student/athlete/etc doing it “better” than you. You see someone wearing things you can’t afford that supposedly gives you some kind of social status. You see someone who is more successful than you (Lululemon…feel like we’ve got to keep up with what is trendy). Maybe they made the team/got better grades/a better voice/got the accolade/promotion…

I can remember the first time my wife and I took our kids to Disney…the girls didn’t measure up to the height requirement so we put their hair up in buns.

Lesson—we’re going to do whatever it takes to measure up.

We compare ourselves to other people and we’re left feeling despair. You measure yourself up against others…you’ll never measure up.

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How do we define “value?” Most of the time, we define it by how popular it is. How “valuable” are you on social media? Well, how many likes did your selfie get? Hopefully a lot because you took 6 or 7 just to make sure your smile was right…the angle was right.

Illustration: “Value”—what someone is willing to pay for something. My baseball cards—excited because I thought I was a millionaire. But they’re really valuable to me because they hold sentimental value. Ebay may not say they’re worth very much but they’re worth a lot to me.

Main Point: In Christ, we have been set free from the pressure to “measure up.” In Christ, we have value.

One of the ways that the Bible describes our salvation is by

In Christ, I have a new identity—Child of God.

As a child of God…

1. I am unconditionally loved.

You might just need to hear that tonight. Maybe you’re saved and you’re struggling with the burden of feeling like you’re not measuring up…like you’ve got to keep the good Christian behavior in order for God to accept you.

Romans 8:31–32 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

My own personal testimony—struggle to feel like I had to constantly prove myself to God.

The sad reality of life is that so many of our relationships are conditional—even transactional.

God’s love for you is not based on your performance. It’s based on Jesus. God the Father loves the Son eternally. If you’re in Christ, God’s love for you is based on…

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Application

Some of you may feel unloved. Maybe a friend has walked away from you. Maybe a parent has disappointed you. Maybe you’ve been rejected or made to feel invisible. But hear this: God’s love is not based on how well you perform, what others think of you, or even how you feel about yourself. His love is constant, unchanging, and unconditional.

You are incredibly sinful and incredibly loved.

2. I am accepted.

Just as you are loved unconditionally because of Christ…you are accepted by God because of Jesus. I want to encourage you in this. You did nothing to contribute to your salvation—except for sin. You can’t earn your salvation. You don’t deserve your salvation.

Romans 8:33–34 “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Here’s what Paul is saying in these two verses—there is enough sin in our life to condemn us...to make us qualified to be REJECTED by God…and there will be times when Satan whispers his lies to you that you’re not good enough to be accepted by God anymore.

When my son was 6 years old he set a goal for himself—he wanted to make All-Stars in baseball. Well, to put it gently, the little guy didn’t have an All-Star season. Here’s what was really sad, though. When the end of the season came and he didn’t get asked to be on the All-Star team, he said, “Daddy, are you disappointed in me?” Whoa. That’s a gut punch. His fear was that my approval/acceptance of him was based on his performance. Funny—I was asked the next year and he broke his arm the next day!

God doesn’t accept you because of any credentials you have. Our righteousness is like filthy rags.

Isaiah 64:6 “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”

ILLUSTRATION—WHAT ARE THE FILTHY RAGS/POLLUTED GARMENT?

He accepts you because of the righteousness of Christ.

Illustration

Have you ever been picked last for a team? It’s a terrible feeling, right? But imagine if, before the teams were even chosen, the coach walked up to you and said, “I want you on my team, no matter what.” That’s what Jesus has done for us.

God doesn’t accept us because we are good enough. He accepts us because of Jesus.

Application

So many of us live for acceptance—whether from friends, family, social media, or achievements. But as a child of God, you are already accepted.

3. I am eternally secure.

God will never change his mind about you.

Romans 8:35–39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Do you hear that? NOTHING IN ALL OF HEAVEN OR EARTH IS ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD.

Jesus’s death was sufficient to forgive all of your sins and it’s sufficient to keep you safe in the love of God for all of eternity.

There’s nothing you can do to make God love you more or less.

Illustration

Picture a little kid holding their dad’s hand while crossing the street. If that kid stumbles, they might let go of their dad’s hand. But the dad isn’t letting go of them!

In the same way, God’s grip on you is stronger than your grip on Him.

Application

Some of you might think, “What if I mess up? What if I fail God?” Here’s the truth: You will. But your failures don’t determine your security in Christ. Jesus has already paid for every sin—past, present, and future. You are secure in Him forever.

Main Point: In Christ, we have been set free from the pressure to “measure up.” In Christ, we have value.