Created in the image of God? You bet we were! Deceived by the enemy, yes, we were. Still loved by God? Indeed!

¹⁶ There are six things the Lord hates,
    seven that are detestable to him:
¹⁷         haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
        hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,
¹⁹         a false witness who pours out lies
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Why? Because they draw us away from the Fellowship of the Trinity and destroy us.

Evidently, Jesus sees something in us that He likes. Are we good? He thinks we are. Do we have worth? He thinks we do. He came to save us from the deception that because of what we DO, God can’t love us anymore and we are worthless. On the contrary, we are God’s creation and He sees us as very good*; there is nothing we can DO to make us any less than His creation. John had plenty to say on the subject:

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Obviously, Jesus saw something good in us. He came to get us back, which is why the Word became flesh.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Again, God loves us; that in itself says everything.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— John 10:14

Jesus calls us His sheep. Sheep have worth.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

The vine gives the branches their worth. Our connection to the vine proves we have worth.

²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Want to know what Jesus thinks of you? Here it is! He wants us with Him and to see His glory. He wants us to take part in the Fellowship of the Trinity! He doesn’t just love us; He likes us. He is “especially fond of us.”

Jesus speaks of kernels of wheat in John 12:24. The kernel needs transformation. We are the same way. We need the transformation of the Spirit, “…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” Romans 12:2. His Spirit is the Activator of the new life that is in each of us, just like that kernel of wheat.

The greatest verse about what Jesus thinks of us is John 19:30, “³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Jesus proved His love for us, our worth to Him, and that we are good because we are His creation, His sheep, and His branches. He desires our company forever! I love this quote:

I asked Jesus how much He loves me.
He said, “I love you this much,”
and He stretched out His hands and died.

The next time the enemy tells you that you are no good, turn to Jesus and ask Him what He thinks of you. I promise you that He will always affirm you as His child with all the royal benefits that go with that position.

Abba, thank You for holding up a mirror to me and explaining what I was looking at: Your creation, created very good. Your death on the cross and subsequent resurrection proved Your love for me and sets me free from believing the lies of the enemy. Your presence in my life sustains my true view of You and of myself. Your Spirit transformed my little kernel into a stalk of spiritual life. It’s what You do in each of us as we give ourselves to You. The refrain of “Forever Reign” speaks my heart to You,

Oh, I’m running to Your arms, I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

Amen.

*Genesis 1:27, 31, Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 139:13-16, 1 John 3:1