In the same way people were trying to trap Jesus, we often trap ourselves. Self-sabotage is something all of us develop and fine tune in response to vulnerabilities and brokenness in our lives. Think about it… Jesus says, “I love you,” and we might fire back with, “I don’t like me, how can You love me?”

Jesus says He has two things for us to focus on: Loving God and having compassion for people. In effect He is saying, “Love God with everything you’ve got.” He wants us to go all in.

Here is what I have come to know: It is only by going all in to God’s love and compassion for people that life begins to hold together with integrity, meaning and purpose. When I jump all the way into God’s love, I begin to know, experience and incorporate His visionary view of me.

Over time, His visionary view of me takes hold in my life and it changes me. I become more and more of His view for my life. As this takes place my love for people increases. My desire to make a difference in their lives grows. Compassion flows, barriers are broken, and risks rooted in compassion are taken to bless and encourage.

When you are tempted to sabotage yourself, choose Jesus’ two greatest responses.

Check back next month for Part 3 of this series.

Ed McDowell, Executive Director
Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center