‘Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.’ 1 Corinthians 3:10-15(NLT)
‘The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced.’ Joel 2:25-26(NLT)
‘But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.’ Ephesians 4:20-24(NLT)
Self-love not only prohibits true love, but also destroys it.
What is self absorbed with? SELF. Fear. Unbelief. Mistrust. Conflicting thoughts. Conflicting feelings. Ungodly self-centered passions and desires. Anger. Hurt . . . deep hurt. Haunting emotions and memories. Untruths. Success. Fame. Fortune. Self-aggrandizement. The root that seems to be common in all lack of true love is a focus inward on ourselves instead of a focus outward on God and others.
So where is your focus? How do you spend your time, your money, your resources, your talents, your affections? Where do your thoughts wander or even fixate upon during the day? What words come out of your mouth? In other words, what do you talk about or whom do you talk about? Is your focus on self?
Although we may have laid the foundation of Christ in our life, we can discover that we have been building on that foundation with the rickety and shoddy workmanship of self. But God can redeem and restore the years the locusts have stolen and take what the enemy desired for evil and use it for good. He can even use our sinful, selfish ways to reveal more of His love, His mercy, and His grace.
Take a moment to think this through and then pray this prayer:
“Lord, please open the eyes of my heart and let me see the inside. Is there love? Is there hurt? Pride? Anger? Selfishness? What is keeping me from knowing your love and living in your love? I want to know this true love in such a way that I would live and preach the true love of the gospel with my lips and with my life. According to Paul, if we have not love we are nothing. Have mercy on me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Taking the Truth to Heart: Choose a Scripture to take to heart to renew your mind and transform your heart.
Putting Self to Death: What specific sin is being addressed in your life by the Scripture you wrote? Paul tells us very specifically to put off the old self.
Bringing the Truth to Life: Put on the new self–Christ. What very specific adjustments do you need to make in your thinking or attitude or behavior to submit to Him and apply His truth to your mind and heart?
from What Is True Love?