Devotions Inspired By Beyond BlessedSample

THE ORDER OF LOVE

by Jimmy Evans

The second commandment Jesus gave us was to love others as we love ourselves. But how can we love others if we don’t love ourselves as God does? To understand self-love, we need to understand that love has an order. First, we love God. Secondly, we receive God’s love and value and love ourselves because of who we are in Him. Thirdly, out of the love God has demonstrated to us, we love others. Healthy, functional love must follow this order. If we remove God’s love or self-love, then the dynamics and boundaries change in every relationship we have. 

When I met my wife, Karen, she had the lowest self-esteem of any person I have ever met. Even though she was beautiful on the outside she was broken on the inside. Not only did she not love herself, she thought God hated her and she couldn’t be saved. 

The result for Karen was constant relational and emotional turmoil. She was devastated by every gesture of others she interpreted as judgment or rejection. People—including me—violated her personal boundaries and she felt helpless to stop it or stand up to it. 

Today, Karen is one of the healthiest and most confident people you will ever meet. She loves God and herself and is able to love her family and others with a grace and confidence that flows out of her intimate relationship with God. She protects her personal boundaries and can handle judgment or rejection with ease. 

You might ask: How on earth did she change from being full of self-hate and believing God hated her to how she is today? The answer is simple and not one human can take credit for her transformation. I saw God transform my wife daily and infuse her with His love as she simply let His Word inside of her heart. 

According to Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is alive and powerful. You don’t just read the Bible—it reads you. As she began to allow the Word of God to change her, her view of herself miraculously changed. Putting the order of love in place in her life was the catalyst for becoming the emotionally healthy person she is today. 

Now Karen is the best steward of God’s Word I have ever known. You may not think of the Bible when you think of stewardship, but it is one of the greatest treasures in our lives. To leave it gathering dust on our nightstand or bookshelf is a waste. 

I encourage you to recommit to reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word. It’s an incredible gift that directs, corrects, enlightens, and transforms us. Every time we read and obey it, we are being good stewards and learning how to love God, ourselves, and others better.

PRAYER

Father, I pray today that You will fill me with Your love and heal the hurts and scars in my life. I commit to loving You and receiving Your love for me. I believe that You love me and accept me, and Your throne is a throne of grace and mercy where I am welcome at all times. I want to love others with the pure, confident love that You have for me. I commit today to be a good steward of Your Word and my relationship with You. I will seek You daily and allow You to love me, change me, and fill me with Your power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

MEMORY VERSE   

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. PSALM 37:5 (NLT)