The right self-image in Christ

Have you ever seen your own reflection on distorted mirrors that make you look either ridiculously huge or puny? Would you just laugh it off? Or, was it reflecting who you really think you are, subconsciously?

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (KJV), “For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 

The word ‘imaginations’ in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 is ‘lŏgismŏs’ in Greek. It carries the same meaning as ‘reasoning’ or ‘thoughts’. You see, your ‘image’ is the end-result of your ‘imaginations’ (your thoughts/reasoning) of who you are. But if ‘who you think you are’ differs from ‘who God thinks you are’, you have been carrying a wrong self-image all these while.

You see, if you have been imagining that you would always be living in poverty, in sickness, in failures, in shame or in any other kinds of imaginations that are against the knowledge of God (i.e not aligned with the mindset of God) for you, you are to cast them down! Not only that, you are to submit those wrong imaginations to the obedience of Christ (everything that Jesus had done for you on the cross)! Did Jesus take your poverty on the cross? Yes! Then, you are no longer poor but you are meant to prosper in Christ! Did Jesus carry your sickness on the cross? Yes! Then, you are meant to be healed, and be in good health and strength! Did Jesus take your sins, shame, failures and guilt on the cross? Yes! Then, lift up your head and live with the liberty that Christ has set you free!

Romans 8:5-6, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Romans 8:8, “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

To be carnally minded is to have the earthly mentality. It carries the mindset that one can only do or achieve as much with one’s human wisdom and abilities, or with whatever the world is able and willing to give him/her.  Why is ‘to be carnally minded is death’? It is because with earthly mentality, there is always a limit. Hence, it always leads those who have it to ‘dead-ends’. That is why you hear news of people committing suicide because they are financially broke, failed in a relationship or having chronic diseases. Those who live in the flesh (earthly minded), cannot please (arĕskō = agree with) God because their mind is limited by human wisdom and earthly understanding.

However, with God, there is no limit to His wisdom and power! Therefore, be spiritually minded by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the mind of God to you. How? Consult Him during your exclusive time with Him, in praying in the spirit and in reading the Word. That is how you can receive His wisdom to stay out of trouble and to understand His ways to prosper in everything you do. (See also Proverbs 3:5-18; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12)  

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NLT), “For the Lord is Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So, all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.”

Moses’ face shone with the glory of the Lord when he came down from Mount Sinai. He had to cover his face with a veil so that the people of Israel would not be afraid to come near him. However, that veil had also prevented the people from seeing the glory of God those days. Sadly, the veil still exists today in the Body of Christ, only in different forms, i.e. in the perceptions of who you are through your earthly education system, philosophy, social values, religious rules and restrictions, etc. These wrong ‘perceptions’ build up barriers in your mind that prevent you from seeing who you really are in Christ.

Do you understand now that earthly perceptions lead you to wrong self-image, but a Spirit-led mindset leads you to His glorious image? If you have had enough of mediocrity and man-made religiosity, pray for the Spirit of God who brings liberty to remove those veils from you, consciously or subconsciously. Let the Holy Spirit set you free to be the person God wants you to be. Live a life of experiencing His glory and power, and a life of reflecting His image today!

Colossians 3:8-10 (KJV), “But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filth communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him

To have the right self-image is to have the image of God reflecting on you. To have the image of God reflecting on you, your mind needs to be renewed by His Word and Spirit. And that happens when you often draw near and spend exclusive time with Him.

With the right self-image, you will have the assurance deep within you that God loves you and accepts you. Moreover, you will come to the understanding that the real sense of security and real lasting affirmation can only be found in God. Hence, there will be no more envy, strife or competition with others.

My prayer is that there will be such knowledge and understanding in the Body of Christ where everyone would know of his/her right self-image in Christ. Amen.

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