The Love Of God - Part 7

The Love Of God - Part 7

I have found, over the course of my life, that there are certain people who are just unlovable. Whether it’s my fault or theirs, I just can’t bring myself to love some people.

You may be thinking that I am wrong in feeling that way. Jesus says that you are absolutely correct about that. In fact, Jesus teaches that I am sinning when I refuse to love someone.

Love is not mine to give or withhold. The truth is that when I consider who I am and remember that Jesus loved me in spite of my shortcomings and failures, it is nothing less than hypocrisy for me to not love someone else. Here are Jesus’ exact words on this subject:

Matthew 5:43-44

“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’”

Jesus never allowed for anyone to fail to love others. Jesus loved the unlovable and forgave the unforgivable. He loved the sinners, the tax collectors, the Romans, the Jews, the pagans, the religious, men and women, old and young, pure and unclean, healthy and leprous, rich and poor, powerful and weak, just and unjust, beautiful and ugly and even those who nailed Him to the cross.

For Jesus, everyone was worthy of His love. What right do I have to the judge the worthiness of someone whom He created with His loving hands? How can I withhold love for another when I am so unworthy myself?

I am called to follow the lead of my Savior and love others with the love He has given me. Anything less is sinful arrogance.