Healthy Self Love

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:27-29

Yesterday, Kristy Hinds talked about the agreements we make with ourselves that need to be broken (HERE is that great message). Those agreements can sound like this: “I am unworthy;” or this: “I’m am inherently bad.;” or this: “God will love me if I’m good enough.” Those things often get taught by Christian leaders. And as Charles shared in his testimony afterwards, “If love is conditional, I can always give you a condition I haven’t met.”

Many of us grew up trying to love God and love others really well but never really loving ourselves that well. So it came down to being obedient on the one hand (loving God) and being sacrificial on the other (loving people). But obedience plus sacrifice can make for an angry, empty faith if we are not kind to ourselves along the way. After all, how can we love our neighbor as ourself if we don’t love ourself?

What might the journey towards healthy self love look like for you? Can you envision a simple next step? (think about naming places where you have shame, or talking with a trusted friend, or seeking wise counsel, etc.) May God speak with you about these things today.