Giving, Accepting and Celebrating Love

I received some council this week, which I desperately needed. And I will share some of my thoughts processing it in honor of today.

If you swing from opposite ends between pride and debasement, arrogance and self loathing—try to remember that following God is all about walking in the uncomfortable tension in the middle.

We see tension everywhere in scripture. Like the “already—but not yet” concept of salvation. We see it in that tenuous path between law and grace, where we are completely commanded to follow the Lord in fearful-awe, and completely forgiven when we do not, trusting his loving long-suffering and gentleness.

Abstinence can be easier than moderation because it’s difficult to balance. Some of the most unattractive things about faith groups are when they do not walk in this tension and set up camp on either end. All fearful law or cheap grace. But again, and again, we rest in knowing that two things can be true.

As you love yourself

The admonition I received was that inside the greatest two Commandments, a third component is inferred. That you are loving yourself.

Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, mind, and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Somehow, we translate this into “love your neighbor more than yourself.”

It seems to be coming full circle for me, with the book I read last fall on boundaries. Setting aside the false doctrine of unworthiness, allowing destruction to wreak havoc in your life because, after all, “Christ laid down his life as a sacrifice.” So all Christians should be devalued as a reflection of him.

Somehow, we know that’s not right, and here’s where we dabble in riding the pendulum. Trying to counteract shame with self-exaltation. Deep insecurity often fronts with bravado.

Intentionally laying down your life as a gift is far different from allowing others to control you and orchestrate destruction in your soul.

But, it’s quite a journey from:
you don’t have a right to boundaries…
to:
boundaries are godly…
then:
not only do you have a right to them, but it’s poor stewardship if you do not protect your relationship with God.

You actually have a responsibility, believer, to create a divide that keeps chaos out of your soul.

Back to self

I was also encouraged that the middle tension between pride and self debasement is actually self-confidence.

Confident in God’s love for you. Confident in who he says you are, and that you are made in his image.

So on this day we celebrate love, I want to encourage you to confidently love yourself.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I decided to rewrite this verse to myself, so I could see how I was doing. Whether or not you received a love letter today, I think it would be beautiful to rewrite this verse (or paraphrase it out loud) to yourself as well.

Here is what I found:
I’m impatient when I want a quick fix. I’m not kind in my self-talk. Internal pride and external boasting destroy me inside and out. My body is a temple, and I am free to honor it. Self-seeking is choosing the moment over the lasting. Being angry with myself and then listing my wrongs is mimicking the accuser, and not my Lord. Instead of taking pleasure in things that are not from God—rejoice in seeking and finding truth. Protect and guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Trust that you’re made in the image of God, and his arm is not too short to save you. Hope and persevere, which is to anticipate in joy, even while you endure without seeing the promise.

To compare: I’m impatient when I want a quick fix. (Love is patient.) I’m not kind in my self-talk. (Love is kind.) Internal pride and external boasting destroy me inside and out. (Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.) My body is a temple, and I am free to honor it. (Love does not dishonor.) Self-seeking is choosing the moment over the lasting. (Love is not self-seeking.) Being angry with myself and then listing my wrongs is mimicking the accuser, and not my Lord. (Love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs.)

You get the picture.

If your first self-check doesn’t reveal any areas of confident success, that’s part of the process. Next, rewrite to yourself as a promise.

Happy Valentine’s Day. You are loved.