Monday, the Second Week of Lent

   In our mind we sometimes get confused about our place in the world.  On the one hand we may have an inflated view of our importance.  On the other hand we could think that we are of no importance at all.  Of course, neither of these conclusions are accurate.  We may not be important in worldly values, but we are of enough importance that our God loves us and sent His Son to save us.

   I’ve known those whose sense of their own self-importance was so great that the only one they loved was themselves.  They believe the only reason anyone could love them is because of their worldly importance.  They could never love anyone whom they did not consider to be as important as them.  God’s love is not understandable to them, they just can’t fathom unconditional love.

   In the same way, we sell ourselves short if we think we are unlovable.  Unless we can accept that God truly loves us regardless of our own sense of self-importance, we can’t really accept true love from anyone.  It is also not possible to truly love someone else if we believe ourselves unworthy.  Deep inside we will always question how they can love us and what the other has done to deserve our love.

   We need to reach the point of knowing that our understanding of importance is far different God’s.  Our worldly understanding of what matters is of no consequence to Him.  Our wealth or position isn’t what he cares about.  He cares for us just a good parent cares for a child regardless of our worldly status.  Love is not relative to earthly matters, it is of the heart and soul.

   Until we realize this we will never be able to truly relate to God and His love for us.  When we come to realize that our values are not those of God we begin to can love Him and others more freely and honestly.

 

   The reality is that we truly are unworthy of God’s love.  Yet He does love us.  That tells us something about ourselves; or at least it should.  God loves us in spite of our worthiness.  This is the same love that we owe to others in our lives.  Until we can accept and give this kind of love we will never truly know love.  We will go through life never having the glorious experience of fully knowing His love for us.

   Lent is the perfect time to focus on God’s love for us.  Put down your smart-phone, turn off the television and sit in the quiet with our Lord for a while.  He loves your company.