Love does not selfishly seek its own honor.
Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not self-seeking.
Love isn’t always “me first.”
1 Corinthians 13:5 (Various translations)
Love Is Not Self-Seeking
Oh my. The further I walk with Jesus, the more evident it becomes that the most significant opposition to love is...me.
Me, myself, and I.
That is why Jesus stated that denying myself is the first step to following Him.
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]." Matthew 16:24 AMP
How Jesus has transformed my life through this truth.
He has taken me from being filled with my interest to being filled with His.
There are no words to describe the freedom I have found in being free of me by being free in Him.
I am free to love you and others because my life is not mine but His.
I no longer live it, but He lives His life through me.
Step one to following Him...deny yourself.
What “rights” to yourself do you continue to hold tightly?
Lord, how wonderful it is to be your sons and daughters! We have received every spiritual blessing in Christ according to His riches in glory. How freeing it is to know all this isn't about me but You, Lord. It is about Your glory and becoming conformed to the image of Your Son, Jesus, Who is love. We want You and Your way, not ours. Amen