The Reflectionary

This activity helps us to explore our worth in God’s sight, and how that differs from how we often see ourselves.

You will need a tall piece of paper such as ½ a sheet of A4 or a shopping list, and a pen. At the top of the sheet write ‘People like me because …’, then leave a gap of a few lines and write a list of all the reasons that different people might think well of you. Leave a few lines spare at the bottom.

• A colleague might think well of you because you produce good reports, or because you are always early.
• The person on the bus might think well of you because you have a bag from a posh shop, or because your hair smells nice.
• In the classroom you might get good marks or be in the netball team.
• At church you might have a good singing voice or know where to find the book of Obadiah.
• With your friends you may be loyal or a good listener.

These are all good things and we should thank God for them. Take a minute to thank God for his goodness to you.

Now fold over the top of the paper so that the title is hidden. On the folded-over flap write ‘God loves me because …’ and then read the list. God loves me because I’m early to work? Nope. Cross that one out. Because I have nice hair? Cross that out too. Because I pray a lot? Nope. It’s good. But it’s not why God loves me.

When you have crossed out all the list, write ‘just because’ at the bottom and add these references:

• Ps 86:15
• Zeph 3:17
• Rom 5:8

Here they are in full. Read the verses and let it sink in that you are loved simply because God is like that.

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Ps 86:15)

The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
    a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
    he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zeph 3:17)

But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! (Rom 5:8)

It’s good to be generous with the money God has given us, but it does not make God love us. It’s good to pray and to read our Bibles, but it does not make God love us. It is good to try to live as God wants us to, but it does not make God love us. He loves us because he loves us because he loves us. And that is all.

Suggested Texts

• Ps 86:15
• Zeph 3:17
• Mark 12:38-44
• John 3:16
• Rom 5:8
• Gal 2:20
• 1 John 4:9-11