9/6/26: YOU ARE Series Continued

This week Pastor Drew continued his YOU ARE series. Last week he focused on the Gospels where Jesus says you are "the salt" and "the light." This week he focused on you are valuable. The words you are can be so powerful. Generally, people say you are when they are focusing on negative statements, but we need positive statements as well. Pastor used the example of a little girl at preschool who is told she is so smart. The little girl's face lit up, and then all the other students wanted to know if they were smart as well. Kind words can be empowering and uplifting. When we hear bad things about ourselves, we begin to believe them. God builds us up but never tears us down. Living in Christ does mean that some people will dislike you. God says he'll send us out to change the world, but there will be hardships. Jesus prepared his disciples for the hardships they would face, including being arrested, beaten, hated, and sometimes killed. Jesus told them do not be afraid. Fear doesn't make us always run away, sometimes it makes us quiet. What we speak in the dark we must be able to share in the light. Never let a fear of people silence your testimony. Words hurt, and we are quite often afraid of rejection. Jesus says do not be afraid of people that can kill the body, because they can never kill your soul. In this fallen world we may struggle, but people can't determine our eternal destiny. When times are tough and you feel alone always remember that God is there. You have value and are worth so much more. We were worth so much that God sent Jesus to die for us. Your value is not determined by your failures, how much money you have, your fears or how others perceive you. What is fear keeping you from doing today?