Love Yourself
Tuesday, February 15
Love Yourself
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 2 Corinthians 13:4-7
Jesus, in the Gospels, commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). This is not one but two commands to love! I’ve heard it taught before that, when working in ministry to others, we, as on an airplane, should “put our oxygen mask on first before attempting to help others”. This is such a great and necessary wisdom, as, if we neglect ourselves, we will surely soon be forced by circumstances to neglect others.
As with the oxygen mask on a plane, Jesus shows taking care of ourselves is the first step in taking care of others.
Do you truly love yourself? Or are you only tolerating aspects of yourself while masking frustration at your needs, weaknesses and failures? Jesus commands us to love ourselves! Moreover, He is telling us this is the first and foundational step to loving others. Do you want to love others? Then you must start by loving yourself and we can do this by looking at the Word of God.
Today’s scripture from 1 Corinthians 13 is often quoted at weddings, but seldom preached as a map of how to love ourselves. Loving ourselves can be challenging, especially if this self-love was not modeled at home by our parents. Nevertheless, Jesus commands us to do it, so, if we don’t know how, we need to set about learning. The Scripture passage teaches us:
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
Choose today to come into the arms of God’s love and love yourself. This can begin by choosing to be patient with yourself, to be kind to yourself, and to let go of any list of your wrongs you may be holding on to. In doing so, you will rob the enemy of authority over you.
Prayer for today: Thank You, Lord, for caring enough about me to teach me the truth of Your love. I choose today to accept this love and in doing so learn how to better love myself the way that You have loved me. May I be a blessing to You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.