 I did something stupid last week. I felt so upset, frustrated and wound up that I couldn't sleep. Leviticus 19:18 says, I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself. God said that you have to love yourself! If you don't love yourself it is difficult to love someone else. I'm not talking about being boastful or proud or loving yourself so much that you think you're God's gift to the world. I'm talking about giving yourself permission to fail and forgiving yourself when you do. No one is perfect so it’s inevitable that you will mess up - probably more than once. Angela Lynne Craig defined it well when she said, self-compassion is giving ourselves the kindness and care we would give to another.*
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us about what love is. We need to show this kind of love to each other and ourselves. Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! * https://www.angelalcraig.com/2017/01/why-is-self-compassion-so-important-and-biblical/  It's hard to watch the news and not get distressed about all the racial hatred and violence we see. The Bible says that love is the antidote to hate. 1 Peter 4:8 says, Most importantly, love each other deeply. Love has a way of not looking at others’ sins. There is so much wrong in the world right now (it's been that way since the Fall), and Satan continues to stir people up to hatred and violence. But if we truly love people, we overlook our differences. We see them through God's eyes. The Bible also says that we are all equal, regardless of race. Galatians 3:28 says, Now, in Christ, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or free, male or female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.
If you want to make a difference, love people, regardless of the colour of their skin, or where they were born, or which side of town the live on. Don't just love in words, but love in action. Smile at everyone, not just the people who look like you. Talk to them, be kind to them, help them. |
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