The Mirror of Discipleship: Loving God, Loving Self

The Mirror of Discipleship: Loving God, Loving Self

It’s sometimes said that you can’t pour from an empty cup. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to be vessels of God’s love, conduits of God’s grace, and reflections of God’s truth. But how can we pour out when we do not possess? How can we reveal the depths of God’s love to others if we haven’t allowed that love to fill our own hearts first?

The words of the song echo in my mind: 

“Only as I truly know thee can I make thee truly known; only bring the power to others which in my own life is shown.”

There’s a profound truth here, one that’s easy to overlook in the hustle and bustle of life. As we journey in discipleship, our first and most essential task is to know God deeply. But in doing so, we must also come to know ourselves—the vessels through which God’s love is poured.

Knowing God, Knowing Self

Jesus summed up the greatest commandment with simplicity and power: 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

But Jesus didn’t stop there. He continued, 

“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) 

Notice the subtle but significant implication—our ability to love others is inherently connected to our ability to love ourselves.

This is where many of us stumble. We grasp the idea of loving God and others, but loving ourselves? That’s a different story. It sounds selfish, doesn’t it? Yet, it’s not about vanity or self-centeredness; it’s about acknowledging that we are God’s creation, fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). If God deems us worthy of His love, who are we to argue?

The Sacred Balance

Self-care in the Christian life isn’t about indulgence; it’s about stewardship. It’s recognising that we are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and just as we care for God’s creation around us, we must care for the creation within us.

So, what does this look like? It means taking the time to rest when we are weary, knowing that even Jesus withdrew to quiet places to pray and renew His strength (Luke 5:16). It means feeding our minds with God’s Word, allowing it to nourish us so that we can be renewed in spirit and transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). It means being honest about our struggles, seeking help when needed, and embracing the grace that allows us to be imperfect, yet loved.

The Overflowing Cup

When we love ourselves rightly—seeing ourselves as God sees us—our love for others becomes authentic, grounded, and powerful. It’s the kind of love that isn’t born out of obligation or guilt but out of an overflow of what God has poured into us.

Imagine a cup filled to the brim with water. As more water is poured in, it overflows naturally, effortlessly. This is how our love for others should be—an overflow of God’s love in our own lives. But for that to happen, our cup must be filled first.

So, let us take these words to heart: 

“Only as I truly know thee can I make thee truly known.” 

Let us make it our mission to know God deeply, not just in our minds, but in our hearts, in our daily lives. And as we do, let us also embrace the journey of knowing ourselves, loving ourselves as God loves us.

A Reflection

As we reflect on this, let’s ask ourselves: Are we taking the time to truly know God and in doing so, are we allowing ourselves to be known by Him? Are we caring for the vessel that He has created us to be? In our journey of discipleship, let’s remember that self-care isn’t a distraction from our mission—it’s a crucial part of it.

We can only bring the power of God to others if it’s evident in our own lives. Let the love of God fill your cup, let it overflow, and in that overflow, let others see and know the love of Christ.

May we be a people who pour out God’s love from the abundance of what He has poured into us, reflecting His grace, mercy, and love in every corner of our lives.

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