Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Can you obey the second command if you do not love yourself?

Jesus understood this and went out of His way to help us be a people that could feel good about ourselves. He didn’t stop at the Cross and say “It is finished” to be done with us. He has given us a life worth living.

1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers 

I chose this bible version because it makes plain that which I believe to be true. Love issues from our hearts. The indwelling love of Christ pours out of our hearts like living waters.

John 7:38 (KJV) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

We can only do that if we have a good conscience and sincere faith. If we do not feel good about ourselves and the life we live, it will result in treating others poorly. This is not pride of life but rather submitting to the God of all mercies who dwells in our hearts by faith. We will not act on faith if we do not believe that by faith.

We will love ourselves if we can see God in us.

Isaiah 11:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Again I pick up where I left of yesterday with this thought. We are rooted and grounded by love and as such, what holds us in place, to be unmoved away from this love of God? It is righteousness and faithfulness of Jesus Christ that holds us together.

The Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon also describes this girdle as a bond. It is worn under all clothing, next to the flesh. It is used to contain the enlargement of the waist. Righteousness girds the loins and faithfulness the reins. The loins are described in the Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon as the seat of strength. It encompasses the small of the back on which burdens are sustain, (expression of that Lexicon). The reins speaks to the same area but rather than just strength and burden, it speaks to the resulting actions.

Faithfulness is born of righteousness.

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus is the Word. Jesus dwells in our hearts by faith. His righteousness holds us in check, His faithfulness gives us the strength to do the will of God.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.