Viewing ourselves rightly

By: Alistair Begg – October 22, 2026.

Key points

• The Christian's view of self should be grounded in a mind renewed by God (Romans 12: 2).
• Trump coming to Mississippi ahead of Election Day to rally backing for Hyde-Smith, GOP field.
• Putin agrees to resume three-way discussions on Ukraine war with Kyiv and Washington, Kremlin states.
• Social Security and Medicare: The promise America created and the bills we postponed.
• Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975.

By the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. – Romans 12: 3.

No one is immune to the sin of self-exaltation. To find evidence of this, simply enter any kindergarten classroom. In this little group of children, shortly enough somebody will be singing their own praises concerning building the tallest block tower or drawing the best family portrait-in other words, thinking of themselves more highly than they ought.

Constantly comparing ourselves with other individuals is a worldly way to think. An exaggerated view of ourselves is a dreadful problem-one that puts others down and ignores our place before God. The answer, though, is not discovered in self-denigration. It is the opposite and equal error to self-exaltation. This self-disparagement is additionally the product of pride as it still surfaces from comparison. It is still self-focused.

Notably, the Christian's view of self should be grounded in a mind renewed by God (Romans 12: 2). With this perspective, we find our value in God's mercy and grace. Our significance, identity, worth, and role all find their foundation in who God is and what He has done for us, not on account of who we are or what we've done for Him.

We are reminded of this proper perspective of self when we sing the lines "When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died." To survey the cross is to focus on the gospel-the truth that another has died in our place and borne our punishment. In doing this, we realize that "my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride." The cross raises us and lowers us meanwhile, and this frees us from needing to push ourselves forward in life and enables us to acknowledge ways in which God has gifted us. This is thinking of ourselves with "sober judgment."

Meanwhile, the church, then, is to be noticeably different from the world in the way we view ourselves and each other. Though not irrelevant, loses its primary significance, and we employ our gifts not to please ourselves but to serve others, when we come together, united by the gospel, all else that relates to our identity.

Look at the cross, where your Savior bled and died for your sins since He loves you. There is no room for you to feel proud. There is no need for you to compare yourself to others. Instead, you can employ all that He has given you in selfless, joyful service of others. Regarding the Author(s).

Alistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. After graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church. In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written a number of books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. His Daily Devotionals are presented here via a syndication agreement. Faith Alistair Begg October 19, 2026. The city of man.

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Taken together, the developments around viewing ourselves rightly point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.