My quiet time this week has been extremely encouraging and a great heart check. I have been listening to a podcast each day and here are some of the notes I took:
All of us have been shaped by this world.
And it has affected the way that you act.
There is a reason why you don't get close to anyone anymore.
There is a reason why you react interpersonally the way that you do.
There is a reason why you wear your heart on your sleeve the way you do.
There is a reason why you continually try to find friends and try to be surrounded by people constantly.
There is a reason why you don't share.
There is a reason for the way that you are, because you have been impacted as you have continued to make your way through life.
Impacted, sometimes for the better, and all too often for the worst.
When God loves you and you love God, that is going to have tremendous effect on how you treat other people.
1 John 4:20 says you cannot say I hate my brother and love God.
You will love people because you will love what God loves...and He loves people.
1 John 3:18 says brothers let us not just love in word or truth but in deed and action.
Let our love be genuine, in Romans 12:9, let us abhor what is evil but hold fast to what is good. Let us outdo one another in honor.
Have you ever known somebody that just loves you really well?
Have you ever had somebody that has just gone out of their way for you?
Have you known somebody that has just loved you well because they're willing to be persistent in making sure that you're special?
Have you ever known somebody that's gone above and beyond to make sure that you know that you are unique and that you are cared for in that moment?
We love those people.
I love those people.
But the greater question is, the better question is...
are you one of those people?
Because the reality of the matter, and for many of us, it is hard to love someone as we love ourselves because we don't love ourselves.
Right?
Many of us are intimately acquainted with our inadequacies. With our failures.
And so when Jesus says to love others as you love yourself...that's easy because you don't even love yourself.
If only I was skinny enough,
If only I was smart enough,
If only I had this many friends,
If only I had made these grades,
If only I would quit looking at porn,
If only I would shut my mouth about what others are saying,
If only I was 2X.
You see, when you feel like you are unlovable you will never be able to truly love anyone else.
Because when you feel like you are unlovable your attempts to be able to love somebody will really just be this desire to fill the vacancy within your own heart.
And that's not love.
That's you seeking after your own satisfaction, not after someone else's benefit.
Because hear me, love has no strings attached.
For some of you, you are acutely aware of just the fact that you have fallen short. And you are your hardest critic.
And it is so hard to forgive yourself, even though Christ has forgiven you.
You have somehow elevated yourself above God.
You have said to yourself 'even though God forgives me...I've got a tougher standard. I've got to do more.'
And so you will never be able to truly love somebody until you can come to the understanding that you, yourself are lovable.
Your sin may be great, but His love is greater.
You might have made a mess, but His mercies are fresh every morning.
So let Him love you.
Because He is going to love you just as you are.
No strings attached.
How many of you have said to yourself 'I'm not going to forgive myself for the things that I have done.' And you're going to allow that to hang over your head when you have a God that is above all things and is saying I have forgotten it as far as the east is from the west.
Let that love change you.
Though your sin may be great, His love is greater.
All of us have been shaped by this world.
And it has affected the way that you act.
There is a reason why you don't get close to anyone anymore.
There is a reason why you react interpersonally the way that you do.
There is a reason why you wear your heart on your sleeve the way you do.
There is a reason why you continually try to find friends and try to be surrounded by people constantly.
There is a reason why you don't share.
There is a reason for the way that you are, because you have been impacted as you have continued to make your way through life.
Impacted, sometimes for the better, and all too often for the worst.
When God loves you and you love God, that is going to have tremendous effect on how you treat other people.
1 John 4:20 says you cannot say I hate my brother and love God.
You will love people because you will love what God loves...and He loves people.
1 John 3:18 says brothers let us not just love in word or truth but in deed and action.
Let our love be genuine, in Romans 12:9, let us abhor what is evil but hold fast to what is good. Let us outdo one another in honor.
Have you ever known somebody that just loves you really well?
Have you ever had somebody that has just gone out of their way for you?
Have you known somebody that has just loved you well because they're willing to be persistent in making sure that you're special?
Have you ever known somebody that's gone above and beyond to make sure that you know that you are unique and that you are cared for in that moment?
We love those people.
I love those people.
But the greater question is, the better question is...
are you one of those people?
Because the reality of the matter, and for many of us, it is hard to love someone as we love ourselves because we don't love ourselves.
Right?
Many of us are intimately acquainted with our inadequacies. With our failures.
And so when Jesus says to love others as you love yourself...that's easy because you don't even love yourself.
If only I was skinny enough,
If only I was smart enough,
If only I had this many friends,
If only I had made these grades,
If only I would quit looking at porn,
If only I would shut my mouth about what others are saying,
If only I was 2X.
You see, when you feel like you are unlovable you will never be able to truly love anyone else.
Because when you feel like you are unlovable your attempts to be able to love somebody will really just be this desire to fill the vacancy within your own heart.
And that's not love.
That's you seeking after your own satisfaction, not after someone else's benefit.
Because hear me, love has no strings attached.
For some of you, you are acutely aware of just the fact that you have fallen short. And you are your hardest critic.
And it is so hard to forgive yourself, even though Christ has forgiven you.
You have somehow elevated yourself above God.
You have said to yourself 'even though God forgives me...I've got a tougher standard. I've got to do more.'
And so you will never be able to truly love somebody until you can come to the understanding that you, yourself are lovable.
Your sin may be great, but His love is greater.
You might have made a mess, but His mercies are fresh every morning.
So let Him love you.
Because He is going to love you just as you are.
No strings attached.
How many of you have said to yourself 'I'm not going to forgive myself for the things that I have done.' And you're going to allow that to hang over your head when you have a God that is above all things and is saying I have forgotten it as far as the east is from the west.
Let that love change you.
Though your sin may be great, His love is greater.
This was so encouraging. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'd love to know what podcasts you listened to later.
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