God loves you - do you love yourself too?

We like to present ourselves from our best side. Even when we are alone, we prefer to look at what we like about ourselves. We like to ignore the other side - the darker corners of our lives.

But imagine if God was also only interested in this chocolate side. If he only looks at what we present to him, it would have fatal consequences. Because then he would only accept what seems good - and leave what is sinful and separates us from him. He would leave us in this state and the status quo would remain.

The Bible does not make this distinction. It looks at people as a whole. In the letter of James it says: “For whoever keeps the whole law but breaks one commandment has become guilty of the whole law.” (James 2:10). This means that even if I make an effort to increase my good side, the other side remains dominant. The Bible calls people “sinners” because the separation from God - caused by our guilt - affects the whole person, not just their positive sides. Man needs liberation. Not just a part of him, but the whole of him.

And here is the good news: God sees us as a whole - and loves us anyway. That is why he has given everything. He sent his only Son to save us. What we cannot do, Jesus has accomplished for us: He has fulfilled the law. He has overcome our separation. Those who accept this in faith receive eternal life.

Because God sees us with everything - with both our light and our dark side - we are invited to do the same. In Jesus, we also learn to accept our weaknesses, to love ourselves as a whole and to allow him to change us step by step.

When we accept ourselves as a whole in Christ, we become merciful with ourselves. And the wonderful thing is that we then also show mercy to others. This is how Jesus changes us and leads us into the freedom to love our neighbor as ourselves. In this, the whole law is fulfilled.

Next Step: Pray and experience the freedom to look mercifully at your other side. Give Jesus the area in which you want to experience His power to change.