Scripture: GENESIS 1:26-28 (NASB)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Transcript
Good morning, church family! If we haven’t met, I’m Jason, one of the Lay Pastors here. I’m with you today, as Pastor Risan is getting over a cold, so let’s keep him in our prayers.
Have you ever doubted your self-worth? Have you ever felt like you just don’t matter? There are times when life gets tough—when you face challenges and setbacks—and wonder, “Will I ever be good enough?” I’ll be honest—it happens to me, more than I’d like to admit.
Back in 2003, I left my home in Prince Edward Island for an IT job in Ottawa. I worked overtime, gave up countless weekends, and traveled all over the country, setting up new computer systems. After 20 years at the same company, I finally climbed the corporate ladder to their top spot—an IT Senior Advisor. I was living the dream, until I discovered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Imagine being part of an elite team, limited to just 20 people in the entire Government of Canada. I called it The Littlest Hobos—yup, I’m showing my age here. For the unaware, The Littlest Hobo was a classic TV show about a dog who’d roll into town, save the day, and vanish before anyone could say “good boy.” I threw my resume in, passed the competition, and thought—this is it! But here’s the thing: they never hired me.
Jesus said in Mark 6 verse 4, “If a man is a prophet from God, people everywhere will respect him. But the people in his own town will not accept him. Even his own people, and his own family will not respect him.” The Pharisees didn’t see Jesus as a prophet, because they knew he came from Nazareth. In the same way, my company couldn’t picture “this young man from PEI” in this major role. Sometimes, it’s the closest to us who have the hardest time seeing our true potential. But you know what? After a year of wrestling with my self-worth and praying it through, I was finally offered the job I was chasing. So now, I swoop into government departments, untangle their digital disasters, and then—disappear!
I’ve learned that sometimes, it takes someone else to help us see our own value. Has that ever happened to you? Maybe you’ve given years to a job, only to be overlooked, and you wonder, “Was it worth it?” Or you’re a parent, pouring your heart into your kids, but they’re struggling, and you think, “Am I failing?” Maybe you’re retired, and after being the go-to person for all these years, you’re asking, “Does anyone need me now?” Perhaps you’re a student who failed a test, and now you’re questioning if you’ve got what it takes. Or you’re caring for someone you love, day in and day out, but they don’t see your exhaustion. You feel invisible, like your worth’s faded into the background. Maybe you had one of life’s setbacks and are feeling like nobody would want us this broken and beat up.
We often try to compare ourselves to the perfect neighbor, the promoted friend, or the put-together churchgoer, thinking, “I don’t measure up to them.” And here’s where we mess up: we assume that God sees us like we see ourselves—worn out, not good enough. We figure He judges others by their achievements like we do—but that’s dead wrong. God’s view is bigger, better, and it means this: You’re valuable to God because of who you are—not what you do, not your wins or losses, and not what anyone else says.
1. You’re Valuable to God Because of Who You Are
Let me show you something. It’s a clean, crisp, and mint $50 bill. If I passed it to you and said, “Want it?”, you’d probably grab it without even thinking. It’s worth $50—there’s no doubt about it. But check this out. What if I scrunch it up into a tiny ball? It’s all wrinkled now, not so perfect anymore. What if I toss it on the floor and maybe even step on it a little? It’s dirty, scratched up, and maybe even ripped on one side. Now it looks pretty rough. It’s not the clean, crisp, and perfect $50 we started with, is it? If I offered this very same $50 to you again, would you still take it? Of course you would! You know why? Because it’s still worth $50, no matter how it looks
The value of our money doesn’t change just because it’s not perfect anymore—it’s valuable because of what it is, not how it looks. This beat-up $50 is still worth $50 because it bears the image and authority of the treasury that made it. Now, hold that thought, because it’s a perfect picture of what God says about you in our Scripture today. Look at the creation story in Genesis 1 for a second. With just a word, God brings the world into existence. He says, “Let there be light,” and suddenly light appears. He speaks again, “Let there be plants and animals,” and they spring into life. This pattern continues, with God creating something new each day. And after each day, He steps back and declares, “it’s good.” He’s pleased with what He’s made and sees the value and worth in every detail of His creation.
But when it’s time to make us, something different happens. God doesn’t just say “Let there be humans.” He pauses, turns to Himself—Father, Son, and Spirit—and says, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” It’s like a holy huddle, a moment of divine teamwork, because this creation is special. He stamps us with His image, a reflection of who He is—His love, His creativity, His care for the world. Each day of creation, God reflected on what He made and called it “good.” But when He finishes creating us? Genesis 1:31 says, “This is very good.” That’s each of you here today. You’re not just good—you’re very good.
God didn’t give us His image because we’re perfect or because we earn it. He gave it to us because that’s who He made us to be—special, signed with His own mark. A king’s wax seal tells you the letter is his, just as God’s mark on us shows we belong to Him. Your worth isn’t tied to being flawless; it’s rooted in bearing God’s image. Much like how that $50 holds its value simply because it’s $50, not because it’s perfect. Life might crumple us, sin might step on us, and we might feel torn and dirty, but that doesn’t change that we are made in God’s image.
In a world that often measures our worth by achievements, appearance, or status, it’s easy to feel insignificant. But God says something different. When God looks at you, He sees a reflection of Himself—not because we’re divine, but because He’s designed us to represent Him—His “very good” creation. Your worth isn’t something you lose—it’s built into you by the One who said, “Let us make them.”
Colossians 1 verse 15 says, “We cannot see God. But Jesus Christ shows us completely who God is. Even before God made anything, Jesus was already there as God’s Son who rules everything.” Jesus isn’t a reflection like us—He’s the perfect picture of God. Imagine a mirror that shows exactly what God is like—His goodness, His power, His love—that’s Jesus. While we’re all wrinkled and roughed up by sin, He’s the clean, crisp version of what God’s image is supposed to be. He makes the invisible God visible. But Jesus doesn’t leave us crumpled on the floor. He picks us up because He knows our value doesn’t change.
So, look at this $50 one last time. Clean or crumpled, its value holds because of what it is—a bill marked by the treasury, and you’re the same way. Genesis says God called you “very good,” and that’s what you are. Your worth never fades, no matter how life treats you. So, if we’re valuable to God because of who we are—how should that change the way we live?
Think about a shadow for a minute. When you walk down the street on a sunny day, your shadow doesn’t do its own thing—it moves with you. If you wave, it waves. If you jump, it jumps. It’s tied to you, showing what you’re doing. God made us to be like His shadow on earth, reflections that move with Him, showing something of who He is to the world. Jesus, the perfect image, shows us how it’s done—loving, serving, forgiving, standing for what’s right. But here’s the catch: sometimes we act like shadows that wander off. Life crumples us, sin steps on us, and we start reflecting our hurts or our messes instead of God. We get mad and stay mad. We hold grudges instead of grace. We chase our own plans instead of His. That’s not what shadows are made for—and it’s not what we’re made for.
Since you’re valuable to God because you bear His image, live like His shadow. Stick close to Him, and let your life move with His. Every day, you’re casting a shadow—whether you mean to or not. The world sees it—your family, your friends, your coworkers. So, make it a shadow that looks like the God who made you “very good.”
2. You’re Valuable to God Because of What You Cost**
Think about how we decide what something’s worth—it’s often based on what someone’s willing to pay for it. Take this bottle of water. At Costco, it’s worth 50 cents. But if you’re stuck in the desert, dying of thirst on a scorching day, you’d give anything for it—it becomes priceless. The value changes based on the situation and the cost someone’s willing to offer. Now, what would you pay for a banana and some duct tape? Maybe a couple bucks, right? Well, someone bought a duct-taped banana for 6.2 million dollars. The buyer got the exclusive right to duct-tape a banana to a wall, so don’t get any ideas—we don’t want anyone sued here today. Its value shot through the roof because someone decided it was worth that much.
So, what’s this all about? It’s not just that things can have wild price tags—it’s that value comes from what someone’s willing to sacrifice. The water bottle’s worth changes when it’s what you need to survive. That banana? It’s not about the fruit or the tape; it’s about what the buyer saw in it—bragging rights. With us, it’s the same. You’re not valuable because of what you do or how perfect you are. You’re valuable because of what God paid—His own Son, Jesus, on the cross. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6 verse 20, “you were bought at a price.” That price was Jesus’ life on the cross.
But it’s more than a transaction—God adopted us as His own kids. Galatians 4:5 says He sent Jesus “to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Think about that: what parent wouldn’t give their own life for their child? If you’re a mom or a dad, you’d step in front of a bus for your kid without a second thought. That’s God with you—only He actually did it, giving His Son. Ephesians 2 verse 10 calls us “God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good work”—His masterpiece, worth redeeming. Then 1 Peter 1 verses 18-19 says, “You were redeemed… not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.” And John 3 verse 16? “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.”
Your worth isn’t up for debate—it’s set by a Father who paid everything to call you His. Here’s what this means for you today: Live like you’re worth it. Not in a prideful way, but knowing you’re loved that much—as God’s own kid. When you feel down or like you don’t measure up, remember—your Father paid with Jesus’ blood to adopt you. So, this week, do something simple: thank Him for picking you—maybe a quick prayer. Then, tell someone else they’re valuable too—share that love. You’re not a 50-cent bottle or a duct-taped banana to Him—you’re worth the cost of His Son.
But here’s the thing—God didn’t just pay that price to leave you where you are. A good parent doesn’t just save their kid from danger and call it a day—they raise them up, help them grow into who they’re meant to be. And that’s why you’re valuable to God because of what you can become.
3. You’re Valuable to God Because of What You Can Become**
Picture this apple as a representation of you. If I were to look at this apple just as it is, I might think, “it’s just a fruit, it’s already fully grown, it’s not going to change much.” It looks complete, finished, and maybe even a bit ordinary. But what if I were to tell you that this apple is not just a single fruit, but a part of a much larger story? What if I told you that the tree that grew this apple is still producing new apples, and that the seeds inside this apple have the potential to grow into new trees, producing even more apples? That’s right, the value of this apple isn’t just in what it is right now, but in what it can produce and become in the future. It’s not just a single fruit, but a source of new life and growth.
That’s how God sees you! He doesn’t just see you as you are today, but as the person you have the potential to become, with the right care and nourishment. He sees the seeds of greatness inside you, and He wants to help you grow into the best version of yourself. Philippians 1 verse 6 says, “I know that God has begun to do good things in you. And I am sure that He will continue to work in you. Then, on the day when Jesus Christ returns, His work in you will be finished.” That’s God as the gardener, planting you with purpose. He’s not done yet—He’s tending you, shaping you.
Romans 8 verse 29 says, “God already had those people in His thoughts from the beginning. He decided that they should become like His Son. So then, His Son would have many younger brothers and sisters.” That tiny seed of faith in you? He sees a life that reflects Jesus—full of love, strength, and fruit that blesses others. And listen to this: Revelation 3 verse 20 says, “Look! I am standing at the door of your house. I am knocking on your door. When you hear my voice, you should open the door. Then I will come in. We will eat a meal together as friends.” That’s Jesus knocking, wanting to come in and grow with you. He’s not forcing it—He values you enough to let you choose, but He’s right there, ready to step in and help you become more than you are.
Lastly, 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18 says, “We show the power of the Lord to other people. It is like God has removed a cloth from over our faces. He is changing us so that we become more and more like Him. We show how great God is more and more clearly. It is the Lord who does all this, by the work of His Spirit.” It’s a process, like a seed turning into a tree. God paid that huge price because He values you now, but also because He’s invested in what you’ll become—His future harvest.
So, here’s what you can do with this: Trust the process and grow where you’re planted. God’s growing you into something amazing. God says you’re valuable, made in His image, bought with His Son, growing into His plan. But doubt doesn’t just vanish, does it? So, here’s your challenge this week: grab a piece of paper—yup, paper, not your phone, we’re going retro—and write down one lie you’ve believed about your worth. Maybe it’s “I’m not good enough” or “I’m only worthy if I’m successful.” Then rip it up, and say, “God, I’m trusting Your truth instead.” You’re not a crumpled bill to Him; you’re His masterpiece. Live it, starting now. Amen and amen.
