What do we have to overcome? We can overcome the thoughts that make us think there is yet something for us to overcome. Jesus has overcome everything past, present, and future, and we in Him have overcome. What then is our greatest enemy? Daily hating ourselves: our looks, attitudes, situations, behaviors, finances, health, and many such things. We see ourselves as unlovable and if we but do this one thing or another both God and the world will love us.
But we are not asked to get the world to love us but to love God with everything we are and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Unfortunately, that is exactly what we do. We acquiesce to God out of a belief He hates us as much as we hate ourselves, we equally then hate our neighbor. I had a friend who one night, saw Jesus and Heaven. He was elated! Everything in heaven revealed Jesus. From flower to Throne. It was all Jesus. He was madly in love with Jesus. By the end of the conversation and like after catching a second wind he began declaring his love for himself. My, there was no end. He revealed his limits and odd propensities and declared his love FOR them. It took some 72 years of life, 45 years of trusting Christ, and a trip to heaven for him to come to love himself without flinching. Just the other day I shared the impact of that conversation with him and now you. "Now, you get to love your neighbor with that same enthusiasm and acceptance. It may take a while but probably not 72 years." |
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August 2021
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