Esteem What Jesus Did

"If you want self-esteem, do estimable acts."

This quote is one of many cliches in AA which people keep coming back to hear, but one which never keeps people sober, let along happy, joyous, and free.

Something in man tends to fight, to rebel against resting in his own efforts. Whatever he has done, something inside of man continues to rail against him. Whatever good other people say about him, inside of himself, his accomplishments never amount to "enough."

God has placed eternity in man's hearts, and only eternity given, pressed down, shaken together, and running over can fill man up.

God gives the gift of righteousness and abundance of grace (Romans 5: 17) through His Son.

If you want self-esteem, stop looking at yourself, and start looking at Christ, your new self:

"17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

AA does not teach this. In fact, oftentimes Christians get shut down in AA meetings.

So much for love and tolerance.

Jesus does more than tolerate us, though. He takes us as we are, then make us one with Him so that wherever we go, whatever may happen, God does not see us in our sin, but sees us in His Son.

Esteem what Jesus has done for you at the Cross, and you will no longer about self-esteem:

"6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
(Ephesians 1: 6-7)