37 Jesus said to him, ” ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matt. 22:37 – 39 NKJV

Sometimes I write in light of what God is teaching me. Other times, articles are written out of a perceived need in the Body of Christ. One of the great, simple, fundamental realities of the Gospel is that we have to learn to love ourselves. Despite all of your protests to the contrary, you are a wonderful you!

I have always loved and appreciated the personal nature of the Gospel. It is one of the great realities that set the gospel of Jesus Christ far above any other ideology or religious system. For instance, Philippians 4:13 says “I” (meaning each born again one) can do all things through Christ who strengthens “me.” Another great one, with seven personal pronouns that each born again one can identify with, is Galatians 2:20. Count them as you read…

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal. 2:20 NKJV

You (and I) died with Him. The old, sinful you; the worthless, wretched you; you (and I) stained with guilt and condemnation, died with Him. We were buried with Him, Romans says. We also rose to newness of life in Him, with His life, His love, His righteousness within us. We are brand new, cleansed by His blood, saved by His life. That’s a new you…yahoo!

That verse also clearly implies that if you were the only one to ever believe in Him, He still would have died, just to redeem you. Think about it! The value of something is determined by the price you are willing to pay for it. He planned, anticipated and worked from before the foundation of the world to save you. God so loved YOU that He paid the ultimate price, through great torture and travail, to bring YOU to Himself. Love loves you! You must simply begin to love you…

I have seen many over the years who had great faith for others, but little or none for themselves. They prayed for and saw miracles for others…but no miracles for themselves. Why? They love others, but they don’t love themselves. Faith is energized by love. What you truly love will be blessed because your faith for it will rise. Many times what we think is a ‘faith problem’ is a love problem.

Declare who you are in Christ at every opportunity. Look in the mirror and say, “Lord, You did a good job!” Praise Him for loving you all day and declare, “Lord, I agree with You!” Forgive yourself, and trust in His mercy and grace. The past is over and, under the blood of Christ, made irrelevant, bless God forever!

Do you have needs? Love yourself, and love will find the faith to meet those needs. Does your church need good chairs and great audio equipment? Pour your love into that little church! Say, “I love this little church!” Love will empower faith to bring those things in from the ends of the earth. Whatever you are doing…pour your love into it, make it a love gift to the Master! He, and you will be blessed…