“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34
It is easy to love a loving person, but God did not say only to love those who love you.
We tend to gravitate toward people who look, act, talk, and even dress a certain way. It is a part of our flawed nature. There is a certain level of comfort we forfeit when we show love toward those we consider to be unlovely. Perhaps they have addictions. Perhaps they are abrupt or uninviting. Perhaps they are covered in tattoos and piercings. Perhaps they simply do not have enough money or influence or education to seem important to us. God views people differently. He has seen their whole story, from their beginning as a child and through every painful chapter. He knows what made them bitter or guarded. At the core of it all is hurt, and He sees through those layers of pain to the person.
God has called you and me to value people the way that He does. If a smelly, unkept man walks into your church, go welcome him. If a family is struggling to provide Christmas gifts for their children, buy one for them and leave it anonymously at their door. If you see a woman sitting alone, go sit with her. Look for opportunities to show love whether a person fits your idea of worthy or not. Then resist the urge to promote yourself and your good deeds on social media. Your good works will be noticed by God.
Why are we called to show love? Because that unlovely person was you and me. Christ chose to show love to us when we were filthy-mouthed gossips, liars, adulterers, addicts, self-absorbed narcists, schemers, and betrayers. He looked at our vile behavior and loved us anyways. Romans 5:8 explains that “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Then it becomes clear that this same type of self-sacrificing love is expected of us. In John 15:12 it says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” We are even commanded to love those who hate us, those who persecute us, and those who use us (Matthew 5:43-48). This is the true test of godly love.
The Bible goes in great detail to explain exactly what love looks like in 1 Corinthians the thirteenth chapter. It says that love is kind, it does not envy or boast. It explains that love does not demand its own way, and it’s not ill-tempered or resentful. Love rejoices in truth, and it endures. Among all others, love is the greatest. How does you stand up to this definition of love? Do you show kindness to all, even those who are unkind? Are you boastful or do you show humility? Do you become envious or jealous of others or do you rejoice when you see someone else succeed? Put yourself to the love test.
Think about it.
Think about those in your life that are unlovely. They are closed off, difficult, or negative. Perhaps they are shy or regarded as unimportant to those around them. Look differently upon those people now. How can you love them? Have you prayed that they be blessed? Have you looked for opportunities to show kindness? You are the hands, feet, and mouth of Christ on this Earth. Find ways to love them.
Read about it.
Scripture is full of verses commanding us to show love to others. Read some of them in 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 4:11, Proverbs 10:12, 1 Corinthians 13:13, 1 John 4:19-21, 1 Corinthians 16:14, 1 John 4:16, 1 John 4:7-8, and Philippians 2:3-4.
Pray about it.
My Lord and Savior, thank you for loving me when I only deserved judgement. Ready me now to show your love to others. Help me to see people with your eyes and your heart. I want to recognize when and how to show your love to those around me, especially those who are unlovely. In Jesus name.
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