Loving Myself
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Today’s Text: Romans 12:9-14 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
Love, by its very nature, must be sincere. Insincere “love” is not love, but manipulation—acting for the sake of one’s own agenda. Love is acting (or not acting) for the welfare of someone else—acting (or not acting) for the sake of making someone else look good or blessing someone else. And here is the kicker: The word of God insists that we love others like that even if we don’t like them.
When people say, “I love Jesus, but I can’t stand the church,” maybe it is because of a heart condition that believes that Jesus loves them unconditionally but is unwilling to love others in the same way. In that sentiment is a heart condition that assumes that “I” am deserving of Jesus’s love.
Assuming our own righteousness is the first step toward church burnout. In reality, faith is having a heart posture that assumes that “I” am the “worst of all sinners.”
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy,
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
—1 Timothy 1:15-16
If the apostle Paul assumed that, every single one of us should too.
But the point of assuming that “I” am the “worst of all sinners” is not to make us all depressed and loathe ourselves. The point is to destroy our “self-worth” so that we might truly understand our true worth in Christ.
Having an understanding of our true worth includes an understanding of the true worth of all believers.
Having an understanding of our true worth in Christ Jesus is the key to spiritual vitality in the church—our spiritual vitality in serving the Lord. Serving the Lord always means serving people, even (and especially) people we do not connect with or like.
When serving the Lord and others ceases to be a heavy burden and starts to be a joy, it is because we are starting to have a right understanding of our true worth in Christ.
Father, You alone are worthy of adoration and acclaim. Why You would love a sinner like myself is difficult to understand. Yet I must hold onto that truth that You love me. You really love me. Thank You for being mindful of me—especially on the cross. May I serve You with joy and passion and zeal. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
