This past weekend I shared the last half of the message, and dealt with how to obey the commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself…” That is Jesus quoting the command…but loving ourselves is often the hard part. I was asked to share the paraphrase I wrote, so here it is…1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (learn to love you the way God does)…as if Jesus were reading this passage for you to apply to YOU:
“Be patient with yourself. Think kind thoughts about you and be kind in how you treat (and think about) yourself. Practice humble contentment…spare yourself from competitive envy.
Respect yourself and how you behave. Be safe enough to consider the needs of others. Give grace to yourself, perfection is not required by anyone who really matters.
Believe the best, give yourself the benefit of the doubt now and into the future. Take care of yourself,have healthy limits. Celebrate the good about you and in your life, and reject thoughts that diminish you.
Never lose hope for who you are, and who you are becoming. Hang in there and press on! God’s love for you began before you were even born, is not dependent on your performance…and is without end.”
THE SONG is from the album ‘Ever Devoted’ by Willow Creek, “If I Could Look Through Your Eyes”. The vocalist is Greg Ferguson
Dr. Stan J. Tharp, MBA 