Could this be why so many Jews struggled with Jesus? When they realised that His Love for people is going to stop Him from becoming the military leader they wanted?
“Love makes it impossible to harm another, so Love fulfills all that the law requires.”
(Romans 13:10)
Words spoken by Paul.
(The one holding the cloaks as Stephen was stoned.)
This passage in Romans held my attention this morning.
“…Love and value others the same way you love and value yourself.” Love makes it impossible to harm another, so love fulfills all that the law requires.”
(Romans 13:9–10 TPT)
Do we struggle to love our neighbour because we struggle to love ourselves?
If we look in the mirror, do we see every shortcoming? And is that what we recognize in others then? Is it easy to speak badly about another person because it is so easy for us to speak badly about ourselves?
Paul echoes the words of Jesus in Matthew 22 about the greatest commandments, and in that sense it is really simple, because of love, you will not cause harm (do not covet, murder, steal or commit adultery) The things that Love will NOT do…
But in 1 Corinthians he says what Love is and What Love Does:
“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. Love never stops loving…”
(1 Corinthians 13:4–8 TPT)
Can I say that this morning? About myself?
“I am a safe space, a place of shelter for myself…”? Can I believe and say, that I will never stop believing that I am worth it?
Because Jesus does…
Maybe that is why He sent us a helper in the Holy Spirit? Someone to talk to in the darkness, that can remind us of our value.
It is an interesting state of existence. No matter how much God Loves Us, and how much love Jesus pours out over us, it seems we can only pour out love to another to the amount we can Love Ourselves.
But in thinking about this, I made another observation:
By loving others, it seems to become easier to accept ourselves as worthy… the more we live a life of honest and true love and care, the more that seed grows inside ourselves.
“In everything you do, be careful to treat others in the same way you’d want them to treat you…”
(Matthew 7:12 TPT)
