P-52 (2021) Week 4 - 1 John 1:4
Loving Yourself
Lisa Ontiveros
Part of Project 52 (2021)—P-52 Weekly Devotional
December 13, 2020

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JANUARY

WEEK 4 — Loving Yourself (1 John 4)

“But the man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to be wrong with himself, and yet recognizes that he may be the object of God’s love precisely because of his shortcomings, can begin to be sincere. His sincerity is based on confidence, not in his own illusions about himself, but in the endless, unfailing mercy of God.” —Thomas Merton

Overview
Most people have the most trouble loving themselves. Sure, some people don’t have that issue, maybe it is the complete opposite for them - they love themselves too much..or at least that is how it appears to us from the outside. Almost everyone you meet is insecure about something. Every human has things they don’t like about themselves, and even allow these things to affect the way the look at their worth and value to others. If you have spent any time at all in or around a church - you probably heard someone say that we are to love God and love others. This is true, but it is very difficult to love others as yourself if you don’t even like yourself, wouldn’t you agree? So we need to first understand the love that God has for us, and see ourselves the way He sees us. We see God’s love for us in the commitment of love displayed on the cross of Calvary. You are special to God. If He had a wallet, your picture would definitely be in it. God is love. He didn’t need us. But He wanted us. He chose us. We need to see and accept God’s love of us, but in order to do that, we must forgive ourselves for our flaws and imperfections and rest in God’s love.

Memorize
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4 (NKJV)
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Confession
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and showing Your great love for me on Calvary. Please help me to see myself through Your eyes. Help me to see the value and worth you place on me and every human being. Forgive me for my self-loathing and insecurity. Establish me in Your love today, and allow me to forgive myself for my sins, failures, and imperfections. My flaws don’t keep you from loving me - in my weakness Your strength is made perfect! I am loved by You and lovable to others because You made me, You chose me, and You have freely given Your love to me.

THOUGHTS…INSIGHT…What is the Lord saying to me?

Project 52 Devotional (2021)
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