Friends with everything that is going on in the world today people are starting to have a low self image of them self’s. It’s seems to me more and more people are having problem with low self esteem, or low self image about them self’s today. Which can affect all aspects of your life from work, home and even your spiritual life? It can also cause anxiety, depression and if not treated in some extreme cases it can lead to suicide. Today I would like to share with you what the bible says about difference on how we see ourselves and how God see’s us.

Let’s start at the beginning in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 1:27
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. NKJV

The bible says we are made in the image of God.

Made just right by God

Genesis 2:7
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. NKJV

Gave you life, and the breath of God made you a living soul.
1. You are made in the image of God.

2. God breath made you a living soul.

Look at Two examples in the Old Testament of two people that had low self image of them self’s

One example is Moses; he had a low self image of himself.

Exodus 2:10
10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, "Because I drew him out of the water."

Moses Flees to Midian

Exodus 2:11-15
11 Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.

12 So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, "Why are you striking your companion?"

14 Then he said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?"So Moses feared and said, "Surely this thing is known!"

15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. NKJV

Moses was once a prince of Egypt, and then he made a mistake of trying to defend a Hebrew From being beaten by an Egyptian task master and killing the Egyptian by mistake. Now Moses is just shepherd.

While Moses was out tending the flock he saw a strange bush that was on fire but not burning, and the voice of the Lord said to Moses I have heard my people’s cry’s you will lead them out of Egypt.

Exodus 4:10-12
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."

11 So the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?

12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say." NKJV

Image what is going on is Moses mind. I was once a prince in Egypt because I made a terrible mistake I am just a shepherd now. I will probably make another mistake.

God is telling Moses free my people. Moses is telling God I am not the good enough, or the right man for the job .I not a good speaker. God tells Moses I make all things I will be with you.

Moses was already trained for the job.

He was prince he learned how leadership skills, how to conduct himself in front of Pharaoh.

A shepherd he learned how organized and a large a large crowd of animals, people.

Jeremiah also had a low self image of himself.

Jeremiah 1:5-9
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

6 Then said I:"Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."

7 But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

8 Do not be afraid of their faces,For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord.

9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. NKJV

v5. God says to Jeremiah I made you ,I knew you before you were born , and I have a plain for you.

v 6. Jeremiah tells God I can not speak, I am a child.
v7. God had a different image of Jeremiah, and tells him to go and speak.
v8. God says don’t be afraid, I am with you .and ill protect you.
v9. God takes care of Jeremiah, and gives his word to Jeremiah.

I have felt the same way as Moses or Jeremiah did.

I would like to share it with you. One of the first ministries I was involved with was prison. I would go out on Monday night’s and have fellowship with the inmates. I had only been going to the prison for about a month, and one Monday night the inmates asked me if I could come out to a bible study on Thursday during the day that a dear friend in the Lord had been teaching for about 13 years, which meant that I had to get special clearance from the prison to come at on Thursday during the day.

I received special permission to come out on Thursday. The next Monday night the inmates asked if I had gotten the special clearance for Thursday. I told them I had gotten the special clearance for Thursday’s bible study, and I was looking forward to it. Then the inmates informed me that I was teaching the bible study. I looked over at my friend and he had this big grin on his face and said I guess your teaching the bible study on Thursday.

That meant I had to come up with a sermon in two days for the bible study. I was still young in my walk with the lord, and I was a shy person. The Lord had me put my testimony together using scriptures showing how my disability is an ability the Lord can use in is ministry.

A lot happened during the bible study that day First was that while I was speaking to the bible study my friend decided to leave the bible study leaving me alone with inmates by myself Second some of the inmates come up give their lives to Christ that day. Third and most important was my friend told me on the drive home that in the back of the room there was a big muscular inmate crying, because he had this perfect body and was doing nothing for Christ and here I was with imperfect body doing something for Christ. My friend told me the spirit had moved in the prison like that for a long time. I was asked to speak again that Monday night and the same thing happened. Then Lord laid it on my heart to start Strength though Christ ministries.

God has a different image of me then I did.

People may have a different image of you then God does.

John 8:3-11
3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,

4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?"

6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."

8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"

11 She said, "No one, Lord."And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." NKJV

Everyone saw a harlot that was worthless. Jesus saw something different he saw a soul that he could use.

John 20:1-2
1.The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. KJV

John 20:10-18
10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!"She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).

17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. NKJV

Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection. Who everyone saw has a harlot.

We, and other people have a different image of us then Jesus does.

A good example of how we, others, God image of ourselves is in the story of Saul conversion to Paul.

Acts 9:1-2
9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. NKJV

Saul’s image of himself is a defender of the Jewish faith by killing the followers of Jesus.

Acts 9:4-9
4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?"Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?"Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. NKJV

The Lord had a different image of Saul

Acts 9:10-14
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias."And he said, "Here I am, Lord."

11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.

12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."

13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." NKJV

Ananias had a different image of Saul from hearing that he had killed some of followers of Jesus.

Acts 9:15-21
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" NKJV

The Lord’s image of Saul became Paul.

You maybe still are having a low self image.

2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV

When we are in Christ we are made new the old things in life are pastes away , and we are made new in all things.

You may still be thinking I can’t change the image I have of myself.

Phil 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. NKJV

2 Cor 12:9
9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.NKJV

Christ will give you the strength to do it and grace to do it.

You may be thinking why would God have a better image of me then I do, others do of me and not look in the past mistakes, give me the strength and grace to move forward.

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.KJV

Because, he loves you.