Loving Yourself Like Jesus Does

A phrase I’ve heard a lot in the Christian community is that we’re called to “love like Jesus loves.” And I think this is true. We can get so caught up in our purpose or calling as followers of Jesus, but really, our calling is simple.

We are supposed to love like Jesus loves.

We are called to reach into the brokenness of our world, and give love freely. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 34:40).

And Jesus is our best example of someone who followed this great commandment. He spent time alone with God because he loved his heavenly Father. He loved his disciples, and the Samaritans, and women, and tax collectors. He loved those no one else loved. And he goes on loving today.

Love is important to Jesus. He loves you, and He loves me. Sweet friend, I think a lot of us believe that we’re supposed to love like Jesus loves. But, I think we draw the line short when it comes to ourselves. I think that sometimes, we forget that Jesus loves us too. He loves us so much that he delights in us and rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Friend, He loves you that much. He delights in you. He rejoices over you with singing.

I think that sometimes, we forget that Jesus loves us too.

So if you’re supposed to love like Jesus, and Jesus loves you so much he delights in you, don’t you think you should love you too?

I’ve heard a lot of Christians steer clear of the term “self-love” because they are afraid of being selfish. And I do believe there’s a selfish kind of self-love. If you’re always focused inward, you won’t be able to love and serve others the way Jesus loved and served others during his time on earth.

But, there is also an important Christ-centered kind of self-love. Christ-centered self-love is loving yourself like Jesus does. It’s being kind to yourself, because your body is God’s own work of art. It’s caring for yourself first, because if you must have a healthy heart and mind to effectively love others. It’s intentional and involves forgiveness and grace and all the good things.

To love yourself like Jesus does, you have to challenge those negative thoughts you’ve had about yourself. You have to reject the lies you have believed about who you are. You have to challenge the demons of anxiety, self-loathing, and depression—or whatever your demons might be.

The good part is, you don’t have to do this on your own. Loving yourself like Jesus is a journey. It’s one I’m still on now, and one I know I’ll always be on. And God will walk with you every step of the way.

So friend, love yourself like Jesus loves you. Know that you are worthy of so much love, including your own.

And never forget… you are onederfully created.

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About the author: Becca Wierwille

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