love love love

Stan talked at TSC last night about love-specifically loving through service. Some of his main points were:

1. God is good.
2. Jesus died to show his love for us.
3. God is love. (1 John 4:7)
4. Jesus died to show us God.
5. We love others by showing them God. (1 John 4:11-12)

It was good because I've been thinking for a while that our concept of love is skewed. Here's what Jesus says,

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

What gets me is, "love your neighbor as yourself." How do I love myself? What does that mean?

Essentially, the greatest thing I have ever done for myself is to believe in Jesus. I love myself so much that I don't want to spend eternity in hell. I want goodness and truth. I want my soul to go to heaven and I will follow Jesus because he is the only way to get there.

If this is how I love myself, then it is also how I must love my neighbor. How callous of me is it to satisfy my neighbor's hunger or cold or loneliness but not show him the greatest love known to mankind? Do I truly value Jesus' sacrifice? Do I realize that our happiness can be found in God alone?

I am so quick to fulfill my wants and desires with things of this world. Father God, turn our hearts back to you. You are Good. You are Love. In you we find rest and peace and joy. Our souls long for you and you alone. May we love ourselves as you have loved us and help us to love others in the same way. May we be so filled with the conviction that nothing we do for our neighbor is greater than showing them you.