I'd like us to read that passage of scripture together here - but first, I'd like to ask something of you. Instead of reading it in light of "how you ought to behave or feel or act toward other people", I'd like to apply these principles of love to - ourselves. When asked "What is the greatest commandment", Jesus answered "To love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength." He did not stop there, but went on to a fuller answer. "And the second is like it. To love your neighbor AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF". Many sermons and speeches have been made about loving our neighbors, loving others, taking care of others. Few have addresses the idea of LOVING OURSELVES. This isn't narcissistic self serving, selfish, self centered love. This is righteous godly love for oneself, for you cannot love your neighbor properly if you do not love yourself properly. Jesus didn't say "love your neighbor". He said "love your neighor as you love yourself."
So, please read with me if you will.
ICorinthians 13: 4-8
Love suffers long and is kind; do you show yourself the patience and kindness you show to others, or are you quick to beat yourself up and declare yourself unworthy or stupid? Stop doing that! Allow yourself GRACE - don't excuse bad behavior but do patiently allow yourself time and room to grow in the Lord and be kind to yourself as you go through the process.
love does not envy; Learn to be thankful and satisfied with what God has provided for you. You do not need to be anything other than who you are. God loves YOU! He expects you to be the best you you can be, not a replica of anyone else. Stop comparing yourself to anyone else or comparing what you do to what someone else does.
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; and that takes care of the worry about loving yourself leading to self centered or selfish behavior.
does not behave rudely, This is one of the toughest to apply to ourselves. We behave rudely to ourselves and don't even notice. We are often so prone to be so hard on ourselves. Grace, covering us. Grace toward ourselves.
does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; Toward ourselves we apply LOVE which means we don't condemn ourselves, we don't think the worse of ourselves. Not excusing our behaviors, but instead striving for love in our actions and thoughts.
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Rather than put ourselves down and call ourselves names, we apply the TRUTH of Gods word to our own selves. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We are NEW CREATIONS. We are loved, wanted, and valued by the Creator of all things.
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Through all life's circumstances there will be many peaks and valleys we will go through. In each we must hold on to the truth and often, we endure and hope and believe without any tangible reason to go with it. We bear the burdens of life because we live in a sinful, fallen world, but we endure knowing that we have HOPE in Christ Jesus of Eternal Life!
LOVE NEVER FAILS..
Don't you fail to love yourself, in order that you can more perfectly LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR!
We at Turn the Tide Ministries hope you find the Sunday Sermons encouraging and we ask you to please share them with others who may find encouragement in them as well. You are welcome to comment here or write us anytime with a prayer request or a comment. Thank you for joining us! Please pray for us as we share the gospel of Salvation!
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