Love thy neighbor

Hi lovers!

So in Bible study we are working our way through the book of Matthew. We are discussing Jesus' is last days before he entered Jerusalem and all the events that led up to Easter. Last night we came across the verses that give us the Great Commandment. If you're not familiar with the Great Commandment basically it says love God with everything you have and just as important love your neighbor like yourself.

Well you guys I got to thinking... What does God really mean by loving your neighbor as yourself? We can take it at face value to mean treat your neighbors like you would treat yourself. I totally see that meaning.... And that meaning is really easy for many people to grasp. But no surprise here I think a little bit differently!! It is way easier for me to love someone else then it is for me to love myself. So to me God is saying to those of us to may not love ourselves as we should.... You love your neighbor so fully you ought to love yourself as well.

Now I know that kind of a twisted way of thinking but hear me out... Given the choice between doing something for myself and doing something for others probably going to choose to do something for someone else. Which I get it and that's not a bad thing until you start neglecting yourself. So to me God is saying that we should also take care of ourselves(for those of us who struggle in that department) so we can serve for Him. I think it's kind of the curse of the teacher... It is in our blood to take care of everyone around around us  because that is what we do all day long.

So here is where the beauty of God's word comes in... He meets us exactly where we are in life. Everyone else in Bible study last night could have taken that verse to me very literally you love yourself so make sure you love your neighbor just as much. But God gave me a reminder that I need to take care of myself (love myself) so that I am able to keep serving others.Taking care of myself it's definitely one of my weaknesses....God and I are working through it....

I'm curious....what are your thoughts? Have you ever taken a verse in a whole different way from another person? Just curious....I love that The Bible is living and that we can always take away something new from it each time we read!!

Xo!!