Self-Esteem
     Leviticus 19:18 commands us to love our neighbors as
     ourselves.  Jesus repeats this commandment and calls us again
     to love our neighbors as ourselves.  This deals closely with
     self-esteem.  Note:  "AS YOURSELF."  To put yourself down
     (deface yourself), you must focus selfishly on yourself, and
     this is self-centered and disobedient.  Jesus calls us to
     deny ourselves (Luke 9:23 and Matthew 16:24).  Further, how
     can you see God if you are always looking for the negative?
     Putting yourself down is negative; you aren't looking towards
     God when you put yourself down.  Remember also that every
     hair on your head is numbered (Matthew 10:30 and Luke 12:7).
     Jesus found you worth dying for on the cross.  To put yourself
     down is to underestimate what Jesus did on the cross.  It's
     like saying to Jesus that He wasted His time dying for you.
     But He didn't.  You are special in His eyes, and how He sees
     you is all that matters.  You are of value (Matthew 6:26),
     and you are chosen (Ephesians 1:4-6).

     --James A. Johnson (September 1993)