In our culture today there is a lot of talk about self-love. And you should value yourself and love yourself, afterall you are called to love your neighbor as yourself so you should love yourself well. However, this idea seems to have taken on this idea of ‘me above all else’ which is simply not biblical.
Conceit and vanity is how we will fall into sin. It is bread that if we eat daily will poison our hearts. Instead, love one another as you love yourself.
Philippians also has a great verse on this which says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
So, this is what I want to talk about. Humility. Specifically, I want to speak on our hearts growing in health as we humble ourselves to love well. Afterall, “If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1John 4:12)
Dying to Self
How do we love ourselves and focus on the facts that we are children of God, fearfully and wonderfully made, chosen people, ect. when we also must die to self?
The answer lies in honor. For we are the workmanship of God (Eph. 2:10). “We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people’s for God’s own possession,” and here comes the key part, “to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” All that we are is to show how marvelous he is.
When we humble ourselves and give him the glory for all that he’s made us to be, give him glory for his hand upon us giving us victory, we are loving ourselves and loving God.
Dying to self is to think less of ourselves and more of God. So when I think of me, I try to see less of myself and more of the image of God I was created in. I turn my eyes from me onto the glorious one, who is described in revelation. “The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. “ (Revelation 5:14-15)
Think on Him, to honor him with all the crowns of praise and glory you have and will gain in this life.
Humility Is the Backbone of Courage
Think about the love Jesus Christ had for us. He humbled himself to become like us, to then live among us and teach us, and then died for us. To do great acts of love it is required that we have courage, and the backbone of courage is humility. To do something for someone else is the greatest motive.
Think about the courage it takes to admit our wrong. Which is the requirement to receive grace. To repent we must humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness. I love to look back to Luke 7:47 when Jesus forgave a sinning woman and said, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” When Jesus says this we can look at the fact that now that she has been forgiven she has the boldness to love others well.
1 John 4:19 says “We love because he first loved us.” He is the reason we have the courage to go tell others, friends, family, or strangers, about the good news. I will live the life God has called me because of his love for me. And I know many of you feel the same way. And that when I am beaten down most, I just have to grab hold of the spirit of God, the spirit of love, and pull myself back up.
Jesus Christ our Savior, died for us because of his great love. John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” What great humility he had to come to earth, and then die for us.
Overall, we need to consider where our love is stemming from. It’s either a false love that stems from pride, or it’s a love grown in humility. I would rather love in a place of humility then love in a place of pride.
Humility will stir you for great acts of love. Humility will allow you to do what you were once too cowardly to do. Humility will be the wind of God on your back as you partner with God and the church to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth.
Praying you learn more as you bow with grace before King Jesus.
Much Love!
Coral Faith
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