Do you like yourself_3

Rom 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (NIV)

• So that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have Hope.

Hope is an excited expectation of the best coming to you or happening to you.

• Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you

I Jn 4:16 And so we know and rely (believe, receive) on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (NIV)

Quote Bill Kaiser: About God’s love that brings change for us!

• There is something powerful about what we think about ourselves. It can affect what we do with our lives.

Charity told me something that Adela learned in psychology class. A group a very smart people and a group of not very intelligent people were give the same test. As expected the smart did well and the less intelligent did badly. But the test examiners told the smart people that they did badly and the others that they did really well. Then they were given the tests again. The result was the smart ones did much worse and the others did much better. Interesting how much difference it makes what we think about ourselves.

Matt 9:10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

• many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him
• Why? What was it that drew people that normally stayed away from “Religious” people to Jesus?
• Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Jesus was very hard on sin; he was not a compromiser in any way. But he didn’t only hate the sin, he loved the sinner.

We must be able to grow to a place where we can do the same. Love the sinner and hate the sin. The problem has been that many have loved the sinner and have learned to love, accept and tolerate their sin too. Also others have learned to hate the sin and hate the sinner too.

1 Tim 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

• Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the worst.
• But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Do you need God’s mercy today?

Have you lost your hope? Is your expectation for your life so low that you don’t think you can make it any further?

Quote about Author of the Sherlock Holmes books:

He once set out to prove that all people are hiding something. He had very influencial friends and one day he sent telegrams to 12 of them that simply said „They know everything, leave now“

Within 24 hours all 12 friends had left the country.

I feel like there are things that you have been carrying around in your heart for a long time. No one knows about it, but it is killing you. It hurts and you feel all alone with this secret.

God not only has an unlimited patience, but he has the love, and help that you need.

I understand your hurt and the aloneness that you are living with.