Get in touch with your inner you. Create your own reality. Find yourself. Hug the person in the mirror. Speak your truth. Manifest it. Love yourself first.
I see this kind of stuff all over social media. But here’s the irony: humanity doesn’t suffer from a lack of self-love—we’re drowning in it. We have entire pages dedicated to ourselves (me included). We chase our lusts, wants, and desires no matter the cost to others. We elevate our feelings and subjectivity as truth. And when evil shows up, we point the finger out there...politicians, corporations, “the system”, you name it. Rarely do we dare to look in the mirror.
We want God to fix everything out there (other people), but allow us to be free to serve ourselves and have it "my way". The biggest danger to the world is not “out there.” It flows from inside each of us:
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Matthew 15:19
The Upside-Down Kingdom
The way of the Kingdom will always feel upside down compared to the world and our inner scripts. Jesus turned human wisdom on its head. This isn’t a popular message - even in the church. “Kingdom talk” often gets pushed to the side. After all, we don’t want people to leave—we want them comfortable, entertained, and coming back. So instead of “take up your cross,” we get “follow your dreams.” Instead of repentance, we get motivation. Instead of transformation, we get self-help.
Following Jesus will feel backwards. It will rub against our self-love, our self-importance, and our obsession with ease. But that’s the point: if it doesn’t feel upside down, it probably isn’t the Kingdom. Here are a few ways it clashes with self love:
Self says, “Be in charge, climb the ladder, get power.”
“Whoever wants to be great must be the servant of all” (Mark 10:43–44).
Self says, “Don’t deny yourself—indulge yourself.”
"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
Self says, “Find yourself and live your truth.”
“Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
Self says, “Cut out toxic people, curse your enemies.”
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Self says, “Get even.”
“Turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39).
Self says, “Follow your heart.”
“The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9)
Self says, “Do what makes you happy.”
“Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
Self says, “Hold grudges and protect yourself.”
“Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).
Self says, “Look out for #1.”
“Consider others more highly than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
Jesus' Kingdom Was Not What They Expected
When Jesus walked the earth, His message was clear—and deeply disruptive. Some people embraced it with joy. Others shrugged and walked away. And still others knew exactly what He was saying but rejected it because it threatened their power.
The Jewish religious leaders had a good arrangement going with Rome. They were honored, wealthy, and influential. They controlled the narrative, had the ear of the people, and enjoyed the perks of their status. They wanted a Messiah who would guarantee more of that—more wealth, more power, more influence, more control. They wanted Israel to dominate the nations.
But when the true Messiah came, His message undermined all of that. Instead of calling people to greatness by the world’s standards, He called them to serve. Instead of promising national dominance, He preached a kingdom “not of this world.”
Instead of feeding their love of self, He demanded self-denial. And because His message threatened their kingdoms of comfort and control, they got rid of Him. Or so they thought. (See the Parable of the Tenants Matthew 21:33-46)
Some say the Jews “missed” the day of their visitation and so God will “give them a second chance” later. But that’s not the story Scripture tells. Thousands upon thousands did embrace their Messiah and the message of His kingdom. Others, however, clung to their own version of Messiah—a savior who would validate their ambitions, not dismantle them.
And history tells the outcome: those who embraced Him went on to thrive and carry the gospel across the world. Those who built their own kingdoms lost them tragically in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 as was foretold.
The clash hasn’t changed. Jesus’ call to deny yourself and follow Him still runs opposite to our default setting. Some think they can become their own "Christs". Some want a Messiah figure who props up their preferences, validates their truths, and crowns them kings of their own empires. But the real Messiah, the only Christ, still comes saying: “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Final Thought
"The greatest love of all, Is easy to achieve.
Learning to love yourself, It is the greatest love of all"
Sorry, Whitney. It's not.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Great love is sacrificial, not self-serving. The very life we think we’re losing is the one that becomes full, rich, and free when we surrender it. So if you want to have a bad day, keep clinging to your own kingdom. But if you want a good day—lay it down, and watch how God flips everything right-side up.
Acts 17:11
Become a Berean
“They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day.”
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