Why is everything so opposite? Why do we yearn for things that are bad for us? Are we created in a way that opposes what really matters? Why don’t I naturally want good things? Ok, I need to move back to the real beginning. We were actually created good but got ourselves tempted in choosing ourselves over God, over others. We as humans fell, and this historic event that we call ‘The Fall’ had spiritual consequences, from now on, we start off on the wrong side, on the ‘me’ side. So, when I see a natural yearning in myself that longs for bad things, they are probably things that put ‘me’ in the centre. Lust lets me use other people for my satisfaction. Greed gives me all the money and stuff and not others. Hate basically says I am more important than anyone else. Lying makes me look good. Stealing gets me things that belong to others. Violence gives me power over others. Arrogance makes me think I am the smartest. Vanity shows me myself as the most desired. Egoism is what it all comes down to. Me me me.
When God asks me to be the opposite of my natural self, it’s not because He wants to go against me, no, He is for me. I shouldn’t be annoyed when I can’t have things my way. I should be grateful that He desires me to be on His side, in one team, against the bad things. Not just the bad things in the world, but mainly the bad things inside me. And He doesn’t just ask that of me, He grows me, and He shows me how. The fact that I perceive it to be against me, shows me I don’t really understand Him very well yet.
I read a quote today by John Lynch: “I am convinced God’s goal for the non-believer is conviction of sin-so we’d run to His love…God’s goal for the believer-is conviction of His love-so we’d run from sin.”
Love is selfless. A nice wordplay, self-less. Less of me. Less for me. Less about me. More for others. More for God.
Jesus, the Son of God, the embodiment of Love, says: “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind… and …Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matt 22:37,39)
He repeats what God had already said through Moses: “And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” (Deut 6:5) and “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Lev 19:18)
The apostle Paul then repeats it again: “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbour, you will fulfil the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfils the requirements of God’s law.” (Romans 13:8-10)
Again, I see that I need to Love. How do I love? By engaging with Love Himself. He will teach me, rub off on me, grow me and complete me. This completing He does by filling the gap between what I can and what I can’t. He makes it perfect. It’s hard for me to see, but He says it through the apostle Paul: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Phil 1:6)
That gives me hope that Love will win, also in me.
Recipes of Hope 
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