Devotional #3       



Love Yourself Enough to Hate Your Life

In the Gospel of John, the following words of Jesus are recorded: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me: and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

These verses, found in John 12:23-26, talk about following Christ so closely and intimately that our lives are aligned to the type of sacrificial life that our Savior lived. It’s a life where we often die to (let go of) our own will and plans. As a result, many will come to Christ through our witness. To be this type of servant, we follow Christ and this is not always to glamorous places. Remember, Jesus himself could not even teach in his own temple, was not respected in his own hometown, and He was eventually betrayed by his closest friends and handed over to death. Yes, we must hate our very lives; as we serve instead of being self-serving.

Don’t be confused, as I was before God clarified this to me. Scripture says “hate your life.” It does NOT say “hate yourself.” This, I believe is a lie of Satan that deceives many people. Please know that the Lord not only wants you to love yourself, but He wants you to love yourself in a very big way! Luke 10:27 says, “So He answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

After I read this that day, the Lord asked me, “How much should you love your neighbor? I thought of how much God loved everyone and Jesus shared the story of the ‘Good Samaritan.’ It showed that everyone who crosses our path is our neighbor and that real love should lead us to kind, helpful, and sacrificial actions. So, I answered, “A lot, Lord!” That is when, He asked me, “Then, how much should you love yourself?” In that moment, I understood that the answer had to be, “a lot!” Hating your life- is NOT hating yourself! This was when the Lord truly began to repair my self-image. I started to understand that I was ‘wonderfully made,’ ‘precious,’ and ‘with purpose.’ The great news is that so are you!

Are you ready to let the Lord work on you, in you, and through you? Very well, that may mean letting go of your own will and plans (when they conflict with His) to the point where it seems as though you hate your very life. Do you love yourself and your neighbors enough to do this?

See It for Yourself: John 12:23-26; Luke 10:27                                                                               

Prayer Focus:         

Dear Lord,  

     Help me to understand that You truly love me and have plans for me. Help me to die to my own plans and will, when they conflict with Yours. Teach me to hate this life, so that I will gain a greater eternal life and be pleasing to You here and now! Help me to love myself and others more, as I rejoice in You for what you are doing within and through me.

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen

Working It Out:      

·         Receive God’s love for you!

·         Forgive yourself and others.

·         Be an agent of God’s love for all those around you.

·         Seek God’s will, and be willing to give up your own.