LOVING THE UNLOVABLE
“Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Luke 6:31-36 (NIV)
It’s one thing to talk about God’s unconditional love, but it’s quite another way to extend unconditional love to others. Let's be honest, some people are simply difficult to love. If you think of specific people you've come in contact with over the past few days or weeks, you’ll likely notice that some of them have been easier to love (and be around) than others. There are people you like to spend time with and others you avoid. There are people who treat you with kindness and respect and others who hold a grudge or take advantage of you. But be careful as you categorize them, though, as some of those very people may be putting you on the hard-to-love list!
Loving the unlovable shapes who we become. As we extend grace and mercy, we actually become like Jesus. As one pastor once told me, you always need to have one difficult person in your life. It will do you good (not my favorite thing to hear at the time!). Not only that, but loving those who are difficult reminds us of God’s unconditional love. That, though we were sinners, God loved us and sent His Son to die for us (see Romans 5:8). God showed us in the greatest way what it looks like to love the unlovable! Loving the unlovable also reveals to a lost and hurting world that there is One who loves them. This is what it means to be the church.
APPLICATION: Think of someone you’ve had a difficult time loving. Do something nice for them and see what happens!
PRAYER: God, thank You for loving me when I was unlovable. I pray You’d fill me with Your mercy and compassion so I can love people the way You do. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?