TUESDAY 7th FEBRUARY 1984

LOVE YOURSELF, AND OTHERS THE SAME

NEWS      Welcome to Mr Dean Hazelton, Finance Services Manager, World Vision US.

Reading:  Matthew 22:39                English  - Viane   Chinese - Vivien

This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar 'Love your neighbor as much as you do yourself.'

COMMENTARY                                   - Monica

Today we shall start a series of studies based on the booklet, "Bible Studies", prepared for this year's 30 Hour Famine.

When we read this command that Jesus gave to his followers we tend to overlook the last part.  We realise that we should love our neighbour, but we don't notice that we are also supposed to love ourselves.  Of course some people are so full of self-love that they cannot love anyone else.  Jesus does not want us to love ourselves so much that we think only about ourselves.  But we should love ourselves.  Why?  Because God loves us.

God says to us:

You are very important to me.  I made you.

You are important to me. I died on the cross for you.

You are important to me.  I watched over your development.

You are very important to God.  Not because of anything you have done, how you look, or where you live, but because you are a person.  You can stand tall, love yourself, feel important.  God loves you!

Now Jesus is asking us to take a further step.  Not to simply love ourselves, but to love our neighbours in the same way.

When Jesus said, "Love your neighbour as yourself", somebody asked "Who is my neighbour?"  Tomorrow we shall find out how he answered.

OTHER NEWS

PRAYER
Lord God, we praise you that you have looked with such kindness and love on ordinary people like us.  Your love makes us feel important. Help us to love others with the same love.
In Jesus' Name we pray. A-men