Today, we continue our look into our personal worth and identity.

Consider this: If someone believes he or she was an accident, this strongly affects how someone thinks about themselves and their future. If there is no real point or purpose to life, why care about others and why show love and kindness? Why not do what we want and have all the fun we can while we can? If we are our own standard, why should personal responsibility matter at all?

But on the other hand, and let’s personalize this thought—how does a belief that a loving God created you and wants a relationship with you affect how you think about yourself and your future? Having a real purpose for life means decisions and behavior will not only impact you, but also those all around you. The great news of the gospel is that God has always been involved in your life and always will be.

Yesterday, we read from Genesis 1. Today, let’s read a verse from Genesis 2.

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

And now for the beautiful side of the story, let’s skip to verse 21:

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.  Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” (Genesis 2:21-23 NLT)

Where was God in these scenes? He was in the dirt—involved, creating, engaged. He was crafting man and woman. He breathed His own breath into them. No one did “the dirty work”, so to speak, for God; He did it Himself!

God was giving, not taking. And He has been giving life from the very beginning and has never stopped.

If we are going to believe the Bible and what God says, then these are our truths: You were formed out of a deep love from a God who desperately loves you. You didn’t come from apes. Your ancestors didn’t crawl up onto the seashore out of primordial ooze. You didn’t evolve or morph, and you certainly were not an accident. God planned, designed, and made you. … And every single one of your kids. That is who you and your family are … God’s very own.

Pray with me: “Father, thank You for planning us with and for a purpose—me and my kids. Guide me, lead me to help us all find that purpose through Your plan and with an attitude of worth, value, and identity that only comes from You. As above, so below.”