Thinking of Ourselves as God Sees Us

Jesus Christ was maligned and criticized more than any man—but he always remembered who God made him to be. At times, when the Devil tries to accuse and condemn us, it’s good to remember who God made us to be and what He thinks of us.

The English word “Devil” comes directly from the Greek diabolos, which means “accuser.” That is what the Devil does.

Revelation 12:9,10:
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 

Satan has great anger against us, and he knows that he only has a “short time” to attack us before Christ comes back for us. Despite his relentless attacks on our thinking, we know that there is no condemnation when we are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We can keep a good conscience because we know these accusations are false.

I Peter 3:16:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 

So much of what makes us “good” in God’s eyes is simply acknowledging and accepting what He has done for us in Christ. I love what I Corinthians says:

I Corinthians 1:30,31:
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth [boasts], let him glory [boast] in the Lord [in who we are in Christ].

We are made to have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. That means that God can teach us what we need to know (wisdom), see us as being blameless (righteousness), protect us and set us apart from evil (sanctification), and back off the Devil because we have been bought back (redemption). And so we boast in the lord. We can be thankful for and let others see the completeness that we have in Christ. It’s a great way to live!

Jesus Christ Our Great Example

God’s Word tells us that Jesus Christ “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 5:14). He suffered more than any man, and our adversary, the Devil, attacked and accused him constantly through religious leaders (Matthew 12:10; Mark 3:2; Luke 11:54; 23:2,14; John 8:6) and even his own family (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:2,31; John 7:1-10).

The following chart shows some of the “names” that he was called by others. It also shows what God, our Father, thinks of His only begotten Son.

Just look at the difference between what people said about Jesus and what His Father said. Jesus refused to listen to the world’s opinion of him, but rather focused on who God said he was. We can do the same.

Following His Example Today

Jesus Christ so studied the Old Testament to know who he was as the Messiah, that at the age of twelve he was astounding doctors of the law with his understanding (Luke 2:46,47).

We can read God’s Word to find out who we are. We no longer know Christ after the flesh (II Corinthians 5:16). Today we know the risen Christ and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10). We have “Christ in” us (Colossians 1:27), and we are complete in him (Colossians 2:10).

When we go to the scriptures with a humble heart, our heavenly Father can teach us what we need to know. We can straightly cut the Word of truth and thus, like our brother Jesus Christ (Acts 2:22), be approved before God.

II Timothy 2:15:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [straightly cutting] the word of truth.