“People Matter to God” is one of the core values at The Bridge.  As a younger Christ-follower, I don’t think I held that value the way I do now.  I was much more judgmental of people, quick, at least in my heart, to judge whomever for whatever faults I might find in them.  I don’t think I was self-righteous, but I don’t think I had fully grasped the depravity of my own heart.  Through my daily devotional (My Utmost for His Highest), I’ve encountered a couple of powerful quotes from the author.  Oswald Chambers writes:

• “I have never met the man I could despair of after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.”
• “…you know there is no criminal who is half so bad in actuality as you know yourself to be in possibility.”

To paraphrase the Bible, “we all our sinners.’  Bad ones.  I know I am.  I can really despise myself sometimes.  And I realize now, much more fully than ever before, that I am no better than any man or woman.  My finger of judgment is more likely to point at me than at any other.  And that has helped me to more fully believe that “People Matter to God.”  He loves me, you, and everyone else because of his choice.  He chooses to love us.  We matter to Him, not because we are good, or doing better, but simply because we matter.  He values us. 

At The Bridge, we want to exude that value.  People matter to God.  They matter to us.  There should be no finger of judgment that extends to anyone that makes The Bridge a part of their week or life.  There should only be open arms of love, grace, forgiveness and acceptance.  People matter.  No matter where you are in life, know that God loves you.  He loves you too much to leave you where you are.  He wants to transform your life.  You matter to Him.  You matter to us.