My New Book “Bless-ed” Is Now Out! Almost. Blessing #38!

Friends:

My new book, Bless-ed! Fifty-Two Weekly Blessings You Have as a Believer and How to Help Your Lost Friends Find Theirs will soon be available on Amazon here. I have advanced copies if you are interested. I will send you a copy for $10 (which includes shipping). Here’s Blessing #38 in Bless-ed:

BLESSING #38: The Blessing of a Proper Self-Love

“You deserve to be with somebody who makes you happy. Somebody who doesn’t complicate your life. Somebody who won’t hurt you.” (anonymous)

The wisdom of this world, says Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:19, “is foolishness in God’s sight.” Our minds and hearts are fogged over by untruth of our culture. Is our highest goal in life happiness? Lives that are uncomplicated? The complete absence of pain?

Believers in Jesus have the great gift of God’s Word to teach them. And the blessing we are considering is that —

38. WE HAVE THE BLESSING OF A PROPER SELF-LOVE!

THE BLESSING The Word of God answers the question “How am I to love myself?” Erma Bombeck read the book How to Be Your Own Best Friend, went out and gained 20 pounds and said “I haven’t trusted myself since!” God’s Word teaches us how to love ourselves.

THE BIBLE The Lord Jesus says in Luke 14, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters— yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple” (v. 26). Self-love? Here is a kind of self-hatred! Our love for the Lord should be so overwhelming that our love for our family (and for ourselves) should look like hate. Only an unbelieving critic of Christianity will miss Jesus’ clear use of hyperbole in this passage.

But what about the Apostle Paul’s statement in Romans 7:21-24? There we read —

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am!”

Paul’s self-diagnosis (“What a wretched man I am!”) expresses his struggle to delight in God’s law and to turn away from the law of sin. This, too, is a kind of self-love. In the words of Charles Wesley (Jesus If Still Thou Art Today) we need to be “self-abhorr’d” rather than self-absorbed.

Challenging men to love their wives, Paul writes in Ephesians 5 that it is natural to care for one’s own physical needs. It is unnatural to hate one’s body. “Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (v. 33).

We read in Matthew 22:36-40 the following conversation —

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘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.”

Some have taken verse 39 (“Love your neighbor as yourself”) and have argued, “First, I need to learn to love myself!” No! We naturally love ourselves.

C.S. Lewis has written the following:
“There is someone I love,
even though I don’t approve of what he does.
There is someone I accept,
though some of his thoughts and actions revolt me.
There is someone I forgive,
though he hurts the people I love the most.
That person is me.”

ACTION STEPS

1. Look up “love of self” on the internet. Take one “inspirational” quote each day and respond biblically to what it says.

2. Proverbs 27:5-6 says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Sometimes we need to be wounded to wake us up to change. Words of truth — spoken in love — can still wound. Can you think of another believer who might need to be wounded by your words of love and concern? This week write out a letter of your “rebuke” and pray about whether to give it to them.

3. Read over Lewis’ paragraph above (“There is someone . . .”) each day this week and jot down a couple of thoughts about its meaning. How would you relate what he is saying with what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 7:21-25?

4. PRAYER How do I pray for my lost friend? I need to reflect a kind of biblical self-love that puts the Lord and His will for my life first – above everything. Then I need to pray for my friend that he would find what should be his “first love” (the Lord).

 

The Wisdom of C.S. Lewis (Quotes from Brian Sibley’s Book): The Gift of Love

“We begin at the real beginning, with love as the Divine energy. This primal love is Gift-love. In God there is no hunger that needs to be filled, only plenteousness that desires to give.” (The Four Loves)

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Falling in Love)

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Unconditional Love)

 

Sometimes You Just Need Some Love . . . A Great Video!

 

Ruminating on ROMANS! (Some Thoughts on Paul’s Great Epistle) #36 “Critical Imperatives for the Christ-Follower” (A Study of Romans 12) Part 8

Many of you know that my New Jersey friend Frank and I are reading through God’s Word together (described here). We’re now in the book of Romans and are reading chapter 12 each day this week.I count 24 injunctions or commands or imperatives for the believer here in Romans 12. I’m aware that the expression “critical imperative” is redundant, but I think it’s useful for what we see here in this great chapter. Let’s continue our multipart study by looking at verse 10.

We’ve seen that the believer is to offer his body as a living sacrifice, not to conform to the pattern of this world, to be transformed by the renewing of his mind, to think of himself with sober judgment, to use his gifts to build up the body of Christ, to hate as God hates, and to be devoted to the body in love!

The eighth critical imperative is —8. Believers are TO HONOR ONE ANOTHER ABOVE THEMSELVES! (v. 10)

What does it actually mean to honor someone? We are to show them respect, care about what they care about, give them the benefit of the doubt. It sounds a bit strange to say to someone, “I honor you.” What is involved in honoring someone? Here’s a brief survey of that term in the Scriptures with my summary at the end:

√Ephesians 6:2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
√Psalm 8:5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.
√Psalm 22:23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
√Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
√√Psalm 91:15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
√Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 21:21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
√Matthew 15:8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
√Mark 6:4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”
√John 5:23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
√Romans 2:7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
√Romans 13:7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
√1 Corinthians 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
√2 Corinthians 8:23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ.
√Philippians 2:29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,
√1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
√ Fathers and mothers are singled out to be honored. God has crowned the human being with glory and honor in his creation. The Lord gives favor and honor to those whose walk is blameless. God promises to deliver and honor the one who calls on Him. Honor is withheld in a familiar setting like home or country or among one’s relatives. We are to seek glory and honor and immortality. We are to give honor to those who are owed honor. We can be an honor to Christ in the churches. We are to welcome servants of Christ with great joy and to honor such people. Elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor (= financial support?). We are to honor the emperor (= government officials). 1 Timothy 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
Hebrews 2:7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor
√Hebrews 2:9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
1 Peter 2:17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
√2 Peter 1:17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
√Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Revelation 5:12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

A Summary:

What does it mean to honor God? The term “honor” is used interchangeably with the word “praise.” One action which honors God is to be kind to the needy. It is possible to honor God with one’s lips but one’s heart is far away from Him. We are to honor the Son as we honor the Father. Not honoring the Son = not honoring the Father. We are to honor God with our bodies. Our praise should include honor and glory for ever and ever to God. Christ is now crowned with glory and honor because of His sacrificial death. Christ received honor and glory from God the Father at His transfiguration. God is worthy to receive glory and honor and power because of His creation work. It is the Lamb who is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.

What does it mean to honor other human beings? Fathers and mothers are singled out to be honored. God has crowned the human being with glory and honor in his creation. The Lord gives favor and honor to those whose walk is blameless. God promises to deliver and honor the one who calls on Him. Honor is withheld in a familiar setting like home or country or among one’s relatives. We are to seek glory and honor and immortality. We are to give honor to those who are owed honor. We can be an honor to Christ in the churches. We are to welcome servants of Christ with great joy and to honor such people. Elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor (= financial support?). We are to honor the emperor (= government officials).

Conclusion: God honors faithful servant-leaders and we are to do the same. We owe honor to those who faithfully serve the Lord. Honor involves praise, recognition, and, perhaps, even monetary support. And Paul tells us to “honor others above ourselves.”

Today’s Challenge: Which servant-leader deserves to be honored by you? And what steps will you take to fulfill that challenge?

 

Ruminating on ROMANS! (Some Thoughts on Paul’s Great Epistle) #35 “Critical Imperatives for the Christ-Follower” (A Study of Romans 12) Part 7

Many of you know that my New Jersey friend Frank and I are reading through God’s Word together (described here). We’re now in the book of Romans and are reading chapter 12 each day this week.I count 24 injunctions or commands or imperatives for the believer here in Romans 12. I’m aware that the expression “critical imperative” is redundant, but I think it’s useful for what we see here in this great chapter. Let’s continue our multipart study by looking at verse 10.

We’ve seen that the believer is to offer his body as a living sacrifice, not to conform to the pattern of this world, to be transformed by the renewing of his mind, to think of himself with sober judgment, to use his gifts to build up the body of Christ, and to hate as God hates!

The seventh critical imperative is —7. The believer is TO BE DEVOTED TO THE BODY IN LOVE! (v. 10)

What exactly does it mean to be devoted to one another in love? Well, we learn in Acts 2:42 that the early church was devoted to four priorities as they met together: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” But were they devoted to each other?

The answer, of course, is YES! And they showed their devotion to other believers by praying for each other, suffering persecution with each other, financially supporting each other, even rebuking each other (one thinks of Paul’s rebuke of Peter in the book of Galatians!). Such devotion requires TIME, ENERGY, WISDOM, INVOLVEMENT, COMPASSION, BOLDNESS, etc.

Today’s Challenge: Can you honestly say that you are devoted to other believers in love? How do you show that devotion? Be specific. And then look for additional ways to express your affection for another in Christ.

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Valentine’s Day)

 

Commands Worth Keeping! (A Study of I Corinthians 16:13-14)

Friends: If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that my friend Frank (in New Jersey) and I have been doing an email Bible study for over a year. We read the same chapter every day for a week — and then send a brief email of encouragement to each other. We’ve completed most of the epistles of the New Testament — and it’s been a great discipline for both of us.

We’re now in the book of I Corinthians. And we just started reading I Corinthians 15 on Easter Sunday! We are now concluding I Corinthians and I want to post a few outlines on the last chapter, chapter 16.

The Apostle Paul has had his hands full in writing to and correcting the Corinthian believers, hasn’t he? Now, as he closes this letter, he refers to a number of fellow-workers and his commendation of them. But Paul is always the careful teacher. He realizes that several succinct directives/commands need to be pressed home to these believers. And we need the same today.

Commands Worth Keeping! (A Study of I Corinthians 16:13-14)

I.  Be on your guard! (v. 13)
>>> Because the gospel and God’s people are under attack.

II. Stand firm in the faith
>>> Because the temptation to become a spiritual deserter is everywhere.

III. Be courageous
>>> Because persecution (in its many forms) inevitably will be used by those who refuse to believe.

IV. Be strong
>>> Because the Lord requires soldiers, not pacifists.

V. Do everything in love
>>> Ungodly hatred has no place in our mission.

Today’s Challenge: Ask yourself several questions today: (1) Where am I letting down my guard? (2) Am I waffling in my faith in any specific way? (3) Where am I failing to show godly courage? (4) In what area of my Christian life am I weak? And what can I do about it? (5) Does love motivate my daily life?

 

Time for Another Great Quote from Thomas Watson — Self-Love!