Day 78
I Samuel 13:15
"Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone:"
This verse is extracted from a sad story with a tragic ending. Amnon schemed, because of his lust, to engage in sexual activity with his half sister. She was a beautiful girl and he thought he loved her so much until it made him sick. A "friend" helped him plot to get her in his bedroom. She pleaded with him to do what was right, but he raped her anyway. After the assault, he wanted nothing to do with her. He could not stand her and sent her away disgraced. Did he ever love her?
It is very important that we not base our value on other people's opinion. Someone who could "love" us so much one minute could hate us another minute. It depends on the motivation for their "love." All love is not true love. Some is lust or selfishness. We can be devastated by the conduct of those who say they love us, if we base our worth on their opinions.
God truly loves us. He has proven it and continues to prove it. He is definitely unselfish. His love gave, and it keeps on giving. His thoughts towards us are for continual good and not evil. We are valuable and precious. There is no higher opinion than God's. Let us hold fast to the knowledge of His love for us and confess it regularly. Appreciate kind expressions of others, but don't formulate your opinion of yourself from them. Stay humble and neutral in response to the "love" of others.
I will emphasize God's love for me and value myself based upon His love. I will stay humble and neutral in my response to the expressions of love from others.