Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. Proverbs 27:2
As we sat around the little classroom during one of my first women’s bible studies at our new church home, I saw the first of many “arrows.”
Remember me telling you about the mile markers and connections on life’s hiking trails?
They are the little indicators, I call them arrows, that let you know you are on the right track?
Well, this particular arrow, came from my Pastor’s wife.
Someone was fluffing her, for all her many gifts and abilities, and she responded,
“If you want to know what I’m really like, ask my girls.”
My heart delighted.
I was witnessing humility and real, self evaluation at its finest.
I was reminded of that comment just now while scrubbing my daughter’s shower.
We have an appraiser coming in a few days.
I realize, I could get by with what he would see on the surface, while the curtain remained closed,
but my daughter knows, because she lives here,
if the bathroom is really clean!
The Truth is, Jesus is the greatest of all Appraisers.
He valued your life to be worthy of His own blood shed.
But, we are the appraisers for Him on this earth.
It’s not enough to just value our own dwellings.
According to Proverbs, we are to get an appraisal from an outsider.
We can’t just take our own estimation of how we are to be the final say.
Paul says this:
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3
We have to have a standard for appraisals.
Otherwise, even in the world’s market, value would be based on the sole opinion of the owner.
Yikes!
We’ve all been around, or have been, of those who think their houses were worth a fortune!
And, they may be, to them-
But when compared,
(hear me out…)
Not just to other’s homes…
But to JESUS,
There is a standard on which to bring value.
Jesus is that Standard.
He’s the comp for every market.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13
So, in light of an appraisal, what is your house worth?
What does the Appraiser see?
What matters most is that of those closest to you.
They have the most accurate report.
What does your husband or wife see?
Your kids?
Or for those of you that still live at home, what do your parents see?
Your peers?
Get an estimate.
And then, in light of the information, allow the Holy Spirit to rearrange and clean out what needs to be updated.
Let Him tell you your real value, so that you can start renovating accordingly.
The Word is not a standard that you can’t achieve.
You already have “good bones” because of what Jesus did for you.
The Word will show you how to build upon that foundation.
One truth upon another.
ThankFully Restored 