For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14
“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.” Lucille Ball
You really are worth loving, because you were God’s idea, not your parents. Below are some amazing facts about YOU:
The average adult human being is made of approximately 7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms. (For reference, that’s
7 octillion, or more than 7 trillion trillion.)If uncoiled, the DNA in all of your body’s cells would stretch 10 billion miles. That’s long enough to reach from here to Pluto… and back!
The brain contains 86 billion nerve cells joined by 100 trillion connections. This is more than the number of stars in the Milky Way.
If the human eye was a digital camera it would have 576 megapixels. Currently, the most expensive digital camera in the world has 200 megapixels and cost $45,000… see how valuable you are?
Like fingerprints, each human tongue has its own unique print; there’s literally no one like you!
There are more than 100,000 miles of blood vessels in your body, enough to wrap around the earth four times.
You are as unique as a snow flake, no two are alike. You were created in God’s image and likeness, for a relationship of trust and intimacy with Him. Why then do so many have a hard time loving and enjoying themselves for who they are?
Loving yourself is key to loving God and other people.
Those who grew up in a Christian background may find this to be difficult; “how could I love a sinner like myself, who Christ had to die for?” Our understanding of self-worth and value has been distorted by religion, a misunderstanding of what sin is and a sense of having to work or perform to be right with God each moment.
This may sound like a bold statement, but it’s true: you are not a sinner saved by grace. Millions of Christians quote this to themselves and believe it, but it’s not true. You were placed into Christ before the worlds were formed by the Father (Ephesians 1:4). Your true self is in Christ, in union with Him apart from your good works, efforts or even your faith (John 14:20). And you can claim no credit for any of it (Ephesians 2:8, 9). It is the height of pride to think that something you do saves you, and that what God created in you is not everything He ever wanted.
You were saved by grace through faith, but not because you were a rotten, dirty sinner, nor because of your “sincere” efforts of faith. You were brought into this relationship apart from your merit or works, because of the value God has always placed on you, the one created in His image and likeness, His child (Acts 17:28).
You are His treasure.
This can be seen in the parable of the treasure found in a field, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44. The treasure is the image and likeness of God in you. The Word became flesh and lived as one of us to claim that treasure (John 1:14). Christ lived as one of us, but just as important, we lived in Him, died with him and rose with Him and are now seated with him in the heavens (Ephesians 2:4-6). Our true place is in Him next to the Father (Colossians 3:1-3). This cost the Father everything, He has no other treasure, no other wealth but humanity (Ephesians 2:18). If a man sells all that he has, then all that he has is what he purchased. You are His wealth!
If God sees you as His treasure and wealth, then would you be willing to see yourself in that same light? Treasure can not be worthless, unworthy, good for nothing, while at the same time being priceless, which is what you are.
Freedom to love and be loved.
When you love yourself, it frees you to love. Whatever you feel and think about yourself, you will project to other people. If I love myself, then that love and sense of security will be projected to others naturally. But if I don’t love myself and actually loathe who I am, then that attitude will be what I project to other people, and they will naturally sense it.
How can you begin to love yourself? A good start is to let God reveal to you your true self in Christ. The more you see your true self in Him, the easier it will be to love yourself. Your union with Him is the truth about you, not your past behavior or mistakes, or what others have told you. This union in Christ defines you, “as He is so are we in this world” I John 4:17b.
Contemplate and reflect on your true identity in Christ, and let the Spirit reveal to you the truth about yourself, and how much God loves and values you. As you come to love yourself as He loves you, loving others will be natural. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:10a.
Get your free resource!
Abiding in Agape Ministries has created a free resource called Identity Messages in Ephesians. We believe you’ll find it an essential tool as you contemplate your true identity in Christ. Simply request your copy through the contact page and we’ll be happy to email it (it’s an easy-to-read PDF) to you.