You Can Have Respect

Most people around us – including us and our neighbors - have the need to be appreciated and respected

According to a Gallup poll, most people around us – including us and our neighbors, have the need to be appreciated and respected.

The poll revealed that one-third of the American people have a low sense of self-worth and self-esteem.

But, they also discovered that the closer people feel to God, the better they feel about themselves.

An active faith can repair damage done by others.

Another recent study done be people at the University of Missouri uncovered some related tid-bits:
— The average adult in this country receives about 60 put-downs a day and most are given by themselves.
— 75 percent of adult thinking is negative.
— By age 4, the average child has had 25,000 put-downs.
— By fifth grade, only 20 percent of youth feel good about themselves.
— By high school graduation, only 5 percent feel good about themselves.

It̓s like a great societal vacuum,
a great black hole,
a cosmic magnet that sucks away our good feelings and perceptions about ourselves, making us forget we are created in the image of God.

At the beginning of Jesus̓ public ministry, he went to see John at the Jordan River.
Look closely at what happened.

Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water,
He saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on Him,
and a Voice came from heaven,
'You are my Son, the Beloved,
with you I am well pleased̓

What an affirmation,
especially at this point, because Jesus has yet to do anything.
He has not healed anyone.
He has not preached a sermon.
He hasn̓t told any parables or calmed any seas. And yet there is this affirming word from heaven: “With you I am well pleased. You are my beloved.”

God speaks, not only to the Son, “You are my Beloved,” but also to you and to me.

One theologian puts God̓s words this way:
I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours.
You are my Beloved on you my favor rests.
I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother̓s womb.
I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace.
I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child ...
I have called you by name, from the very beginning.
You are mine and l am yours.
You are my Beloved on you my favor rests.

You belong to me.
I am your father, your mother,
your brother, your sister,
your lover, and your spouse ...
nothing will ever separate us.
We are one.

You and I matter to God.

God̓s acceptance has nothing to do with our performance.
God loves us for who we are — not what we have done.

Let the word go out, Christ Presbyterian Church is a place for warm fuzzies.
A place for a thousand gold stars.
A place for positive affirmations.
A place for a hug – a kiss – a word – a deed.

For the God of the universe –
the creator of all the worlds that are –
the author of life itself –
says of Jesus, and says of you:
You are my beloved.
You are held in high esteem.
I appreciate you.
I respect you.

These are some of the thoughts shared by the pastor with the congregation of Christ Presbyterian Church of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, during a sermon April 3, 2011.