For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
-2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (NIV)
I just received an email from the program my youngest is enrolled in for homeschool. I was communicating where my son is struggling to retain the information due to how their program works and the frustration he feels when he has to retake a quiz or test until he reaches a minimum of 80%. My son is working hard and doesn’t always get that 80%. Sometimes he gets 100%, and there are many times he will get above 77% and still have to retake that particular quiz or test until he “passes.” So, this program has set their standard of passing to a minimum of 80%.
I personally don’t feel the push to have all of my kids become straight A/B students. I also recognize that each of my kids have a different learning style and certain subjects that they retain easily, while others they don’t. Those “harder” subjects are not due to a lack of understanding, or because they are not smart enough to grasp the concept easily, but because God designed them with a mind to grow in the areas He purposed them for. I realized early on in raising my children, and through my personal journey, how little relevance grades have later in life. Most education plans are for certain educational paths, and it’s not for everyone. Many different types of people make our world function, and we need them all. As long as I see each of my children working hard and doing their best, I know it will all work out. My goal as their mother is to guide and encourage them to live out their purpose, whatever that may be, and to have their identity rooted in Christ through it all. I will always point each of them to a solid foundation in Christ as the most important. God has a purpose and plan that is unique to them. I’m watching this reality unfold with my four thriving, adult children who are growing more and more in their God-given gifts and it’s absolutely beautiful to witness!
Now back to the email and the reason I’m sharing this…
It was one small paragraph that was said in their reply to me that stirred up frustration. Not for my son, or me, but a fight in me on behalf of my brothers and sisters across the globe who struggle with seeing one another and even themselves through a Kingdom perspective.
She said, “We are a mastery based school. We actually desire for our students to embrace and learn the curriculum. This is a radical departure from our government public schools that routinely pass kids through the system of mediocrity.”
So the child that gets under a “B” is not considered for their unique abilities that can’t be measured through a grading system?
Or the school system that passes the C student is allowing students to settle for mediocrity?
I hear and completely understand the perspective she is coming from as far as the educational system and the push to pass kids along without ensuring that they are actually learning, but that’s not what I want to point out.
Perhaps this educational and worldly structure that we have been forced to believe and live under is the number one reason it is nearly impossible for us, the body of Christ, to establish our worth and identify in Christ and Christ alone. Obviously, we have to live and make a living to do so, but I have to unpack this idea of mediocrity and social status from a completely different perspective in hopes of shattering the way we’ve developed our measuring stick.
Calling those with lesser grades or different positions and social status in life “mediocre” based on the culture of this world is not the way of Jesus.
This worldly perception has been ingrained in us since the beginning of time. This whole education system is for temporary residency here on earth and has nothing to do with who we are as citizens of Heaven or our true identity. Yet, we see ourselves and others through this earthly lens and it’s messing with our confidence as Sons and Daughters.
Too many have put their confidence in what they do and their social status to decide their worth rather than who they are in Christ.
God does not measure or see us through this worldly lens — He sees us through Jesus. We are Sons and Daughters of the Most High, co-heirs to the throne of Heaven, made in His image, made for His glory, with an inheritance beyond what this world can even comprehend.
And guess what — that “F” student who never went to college is equal to the one who earned their doctorate in God’s eyes.
The believer and follower of Jesus who sleeps on a park bench is equal to the one who lives in a 20,000 square foot home that loves God too, and anyone who falls in between and the who is perceived as “mediocre” through the world’s system — none are mediocre to God.
Not one of His children.
Not you.
Not me.
On paper, I’m lower than mediocre. But according to the wisdom of Heaven, I’m exactly who I am supposed to be — living for Jesus, glorifying my Father in Heaven. My identity and the call on my life don’t change even when my seasons or situations do. From a waitress, to stay at home mom, to a divorced single mom sleeping on a coach that wasn’t even mine, to life coach and author, and C.E.O of a ministry — my confidence is not in what I’m doing or my accomplishments, but who am in Him and the position He’s called me to.
Take all the accomplishments and worldly titles away — I’m still a Daughter of the King, chosen and set apart for His glory.
Period.
This means that my life situations can drastically change, but my value and worth will not, and neither will my call — to glorify Him in all I do.
From serving fries to changing diapers to setting up chairs and taking out the trash to preaching on a platform — all because of Him, for Him; my worth and my value don’t change even when my title or living situation does.
I can be in a room filled with presidents of corporations or visiting the homeless — I see each of them the way I see myself — dearly loved and made in the image of God.
No one is greater than the other in the eyes of my Father. So why should I see any different?
Let me paint a picture for you to solidify my point…
Jesus’ most difficult encounters were with the Pharisees who were so puffed up in their knowledge about Him, they couldn’t see Him standing in front of them.
They set themselves above and apart from society as educators of the law because of their formal training. To the Jews (and themselves), they were not mediocre, yet to God and a kingdom perspective, they were condemned and had their little prestigious bubbles popped by the Savior of the world over and over.
Their knowledge couldn’t give them access to the Kingdom. It hindered them.
Yikes!
Let’s be sure we never fall into this pharisaical trap that costs us the ability to see the way God sees.
Then, we have the disciples who were later called into apostleship. Realize their background did not give them their position — Jesus did. Not that position is the focus here, but consider this perspective when you are ready to shoot down a leader who has been anointed, appointed, and called by God because they don’t have the earthly degree with their “earned” title on it to validate them.
I’ll just leave that there.
The Apostles came from many different backgrounds. The only relevance their background is to us is how God used them powerfully through their time on earth.
Was it their education or social status that we praise them for, or how they went out, leading the masses to become followers of Jesus by spreading the good news of the gospel?
I think you know the answer.
Jesus left His throne and was a carpenter.
Why?
He was breaking the mold of the system, social statuses, and perceived ideas of what a leader/king needs to look like, and instead, came to shatter the boxes we’ve put ourselves and others in until we see from His Kingdom and eternal perspective. He didn’t need the “look” of a king or an earthly throne to know who He was. He came to shift the culture of this world so we could see how God sees — that we were made in the likeness of Him, and He came to restore our broken image, our identities in Him.
So why do we still see our worth and value through this worldly system?
Why do we allow what the world sees to decide how we see?
And at the end of our time here on earth, it won’t matter what was in our bank account, what our job title was, our career path, or the lifestyle we lived, but how we lived our life in all seasons, at all times, in all circumstances and glorified God through it all.
In order to accomplish this, we need our true value intact; our identities in Christ must be secure so that when seasons and circumstances shift, we don’t shake because we know who and who’s we are!
Let’s undo this pattern that was never established by God and learn His ways. Let’s stop evaluating life and people through this worldly standard, and firmly establish our identifies in Christ so we can walk through this life confident and secure no matter what our educational background, life situation, or social status says — we are made in God’s image, the body of Christ, and together we are called to fill the earth with Him.
Prayer:
Father, I know what your Word says, but I don’t see the way you do. I’ve been hung up on how I feel about myself, trying to earn my way to a place of value and worth. Life has been hard here. I’ve fought my way through this worldly value system only to continue to feel unworthy and not good enough. Today, I’m surrendering this fight to you. Holy Spirit, take this understanding of my God-given worth and identity through Jesus from my head to my heart until Your way becomes the only way I see. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
If you struggle to see yourself and others through God’s eyes, I walk you through establishing your identity in Christ in my book, Life is Muddy, and unpack this hard-wired thinking in my other book, Ripple Effect. Both are great resources to partner with you in your faith journey. Grab your signed copies HERE!
Much love, J
