Imagine
that I am showing you a $100
bill.
“Would
you like this $100 bill?”
“Yes,
of course I would”
Then
I fold the bill, once, then fold it again.
“Do
you still want it?”
“Yes,
. . . of course.”
Then
I unfold the bill. Now I crumple the
bill
into a tiny ball.
“Do
you still want the bill?”
“Sure,
. . . it is still $100.”
Next,
I uncrumple the bill, the wad it up
again,
throw it to the floor and with my
foot
smash it into the floor. Now,
standing
over the bill, I say to you again,
“Do
you still want this bill?”
“Yes,
. . . it is still worth $100.”
Yes
it is.
And,
your worth to God is unchanging
also.
The events and circumstances of life
may
make you feel as though you have
been
folded, crushed, and stepped on.
But
to God you value is unchanging.
You
are His precious child, with whom
He
is delighted and upon whom His
favor
rest.
(2
Corinthians 4:8-11) "We are hard
pressed
on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed,
but not in despair;
{9}
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck
down, but not destroyed.
{10}
We always carry around in our
body
the death of Jesus, so that the
life
of Jesus may also be revealed in
our
body. {11} For we who are alive
are
always being given over to death
for
Jesus' sake, so that his life may be
revealed
in our mortal body.