Introduction

This week, my wife and I are celebrating 31 wonderful years of marriage. As our anniversary approaches, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings we’ve shared over the years. There have been more than a few moments when I’ve looked at my wife and thought, “What does she see in me?” In moments of doubt or struggle, I’ve sometimes wondered how I could possibly measure up to the love and grace she continually shows me.

That thought led me to another profound question: “What does God see in me? What does God see in any of us?”

The answer, which brings me both comfort and awe, is this: He sees the righteousness of Christ.

Clothed in Christ’s Righteousness

The Bible is clear that, on our own, we fall short of God’s standard. Romans 3:23 reminds us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But thankfully, that’s not the end of the story. Through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, God no longer sees our failures, mistakes, and sins when He looks at us. Instead, He sees the righteousness of His Son.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

This is one of the most powerful truths of the Gospel. When we place our faith in Christ, we are no longer judged by our own righteousness (or lack thereof). We are clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

Think about that. God doesn’t see our imperfections or our past mistakes. He sees the perfect righteousness of His Son when He looks at us.

Our New Identity in Christ

When God looks at us, He sees not only Christ’s righteousness but also our new identity in Him. We are no longer defined by our old selves—the sin and brokenness that once marked our lives. Through Christ, we are new creations.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul points out:

Our old selves, full of sin and shame, have been replaced with a new identity rooted in Christ’s righteousness and love.

This transformation isn’t something we earned. It’s a gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Our righteousness comes not from what we’ve done but from what Christ has done for us.

God Sees His Beloved Children

More than anything else, when God looks at us, He sees His beloved children. Through faith in Christ, we are adopted into God’s family. Galatians 3:26 tells us, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” God sees us not as strangers or distant acquaintances but as His own sons and daughters.

This adoption means that we have available to us an intimate, personal relationship with God. In Romans 8:15, Paul writes:

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’

Romans 8:15 (NIV)

We are not just servants or followers of God; we are His children, able to call Him “Dad” with the same closeness and trust that Christ Himself had.

God Sees Our Potential for Good Works

When God looks at us, He also sees the good things He has prepared for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 tells us:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

He doesn’t just see our past or our present—He sees the potential for us to be part of His work in the world. He equips us to do things that bring glory to His name and further His kingdom.

God sees the gifts, talents, and abilities He has placed in us, and He desires to use them for His purposes. When He looks at us, He sees people who have the potential to change the world for His glory—through acts of love, kindness, mercy, and justice.

Living in the Freedom of Christ’s Righteousness

Knowing that God sees the righteousness of Christ in us should change how we view ourselves and live our lives. Instead of being burdened by guilt, shame, or a sense of inadequacy, we can live in the freedom of knowing that we are fully loved and accepted by God.

We no longer have to strive for perfection, because Christ’s perfection has already been applied to us. We no longer have to earn God’s favor, because we already have it through Christ. This truth gives us the freedom to live boldly, knowing that our identity is secure in Him.

Conclusion: Seeing Ourselves (and Each Other) as God Sees Us

As I reflect on what my wife sees in me after 31 years of marriage, I am reminded that God’s view of us is even more graceful. While my wife may see my strengths and weaknesses, my successes and failures, God sees me through the lens of Christ’s perfect righteousness. He sees His beloved child, clothed in the righteousness of His Son, with the potential to fulfill His good purposes.

The best news of all is that if you’re a follower of Christ, that’s what God sees in you, too.

Live into the good news that you are fully known and fully loved by God. The One Who Made you fully accepts you. Because of Jesus, you can stand before God without fear, knowing that He sees not your flaws, but only the righteousness of His Son.