Title Let's love ourselves
Contents
Hymn: 405 “He raised a sinner like me”
Meditation: What is the relationship between the love of God and self-love?
Confession of Faith: Apostles' Creed
Text: “What is man, that you think of him, and what is the Son of man, that you counsel him?” (Psalm 8:4-9)
Word: The words that best explain the core of the Law and the Gospel are love for God and love for neighbor. These two are the vertical love and the horizontal love of the cross. Those who love God and love their neighbor as themselves will love themselves. It's not about self-centered love that only knows yourself, but it's about knowing the importance of your identity and the value of your existence.
Often, Christians see themselves as having to ignore and even abuse themselves in order to love God and their neighbor. Then they mistake it for being holy and believing well. However, those who truly become children of God must first know how important they are. You must know that you are more precious than the world before God and have the conviction that you are very important to others.
People who sometimes cause trouble in society mostly ignore themselves and make fun of their existence. He thinks that he exists, but he is one. You may even feel inferior. One of the extreme acts of not loving oneself is suicide. They deny and ignore life itself, saying, “What do people like me do in life?” An average of 30-40 people commit suicide every day these days. How many lives are dying because of illness, paying astronomical bills? Those who respect and love themselves love others and value the existence of others. Why should we respect and love ourselves?
First, because we are created in the image of God. The psalmist confessed that we are more precious than angels.
Second, because Jesus Christ is the child of God who paid the price for salvation. If we are so precious, would Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, die for us? The Apostle Paul emphasized our preciousness by saying, “God, who gave his only begotten Son, will also give us all things as a gift with him” (Romans 8:32).
Third, because we are God's workers and co-workers. The Lord said we are friends, and the Apostle Paul said we are God's co-workers.
Prayer: I love the Lord. Thank you God for loving us. Know your worth and do your best. I pray in Jesus name. Amen
Lord's Prayer