The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, 2 November 2017 "How Do We Love Ourselves?" by Pamela Crowe (Delaware) - Matthew 19:16-19
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Jesus commanded all who would follow him to “love your neighbor as yourself,” but for most of my life I ignored the last two words of the commandment. I did not love myself. I thought I had to be perfect to be acceptable, and I didn’t know how to forgive myself for my imperfection. I lived under self-condemnation and guilt, until I realized the truth: God loves and accepts me just as I am. “As I am” means that God loves all of me. God sent Jesus to save us from our sins and teach us how to live, because God loves us unconditionally. Jesus taught us to love our enemies: “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28). He even forgave his crucifiers. If I am to bless my enemies and treat others with kindness and love, then can I not do the same for myself? God can do amazing work in us and through us when we learn how to love ourselves. When we love and accept ourselves as God does, we feel secure, confident, and able to serve others better.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear God, help us learn to love ourselves so that we may live out your command to love our neighbors. Amen.
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Matthew 19:16 A man approached Yeshua and said, “Rabbi, what good thing should I do in order to have eternal life?” He said to him, 17 “Why are you asking me about good? There is One who is good! But if you want to obtain eternal life, observe the mitzvot.” 18 The man asked him, “Which ones?” and Yeshua said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony [Matthew 19:18 Exodus 20:13(13–16); Deuteronomy 5:17(17–20)] 19 honor father and mother [Matthew 19:19 Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16] and love your neighbor as yourself.”[Matthew 19:19 Leviticus 19:18]
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Because God loves me, I will treat myself with kindness and love.
Those struggling to love themselves
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Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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