Loving the Unlovely and Other Hard Commands
The Bible is full of “One Another” commands. Commands. Not suggestions. And the way we keep them shows what is going on inside.
It is easy to love those who love us, who are kind and gracious, sweet and pleasant. But it is much harder to love those who are offensive, brash, judgmental and critical, immature, or just plain wicked. But we are called to love, not because the person is worthy of our love. We are called to love because God loves the unjust and does good to the wicked and evil person.
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
When we love God wholeheartedly, the “one another” commands flow naturally out of a spirit led, Christ like life. (Some may come easier to us than others to us, but as women who want to obey God’s words, we will fight against our flesh and live the way Christ lived.) When we are not living out the “one another ” commands, we are exposing ourselves as distant from God. And it is amazing how quickly we can waver in our thinking, isn’t it? One minute, we have great intentions, the next minute we are struggling. The hymn I Need Thee Every Hour comes to mind. 🙂 And sometimes Moment by Moment.
How have you done this week obeying these One Anothers?
- Love one another, as I have loved you. (Now there is something to meditate on! How exactly did Christ love me? How far should my love for another go? {sigh…I have some work to do!})
- Be devoted one to another
- Serve one another
- Outdo one another in showing honor
- Bear with one another
- Teaching one another
- Admonish one another
- Encourage one another
- Be kind one to another
- Forgive one another
- Stop passing judgement on one another
- live in peace with each other
Would Christ be pleased with the way you love, prefer, receive, admonish, serve, forbear, forgive, comfort, and edify both your agreeing and disagreeing brothers in Christ? …How do you treat those in your family? Do you pity instead of attack, delight in rather than cut down; cherish rather than ignore; comfort rather than irritate, love rather than dislike? God assumes that we should love…Do you? If you have not [loved the way you should], whose forgiveness do you need to seek and what needs to change right away?-Rand Hummel, There4
I love this post. SO convicting!! May the Lord grant us the Grace to accomplish this most difficult but necessary task. His Grace is sufficient.
Thanks Mom! What a great thing to read first thing in the morning as I’m preparing for another day of living with people! I often fall into the trap of thinking “Other people aren’t worthy of my love.” What I need to remember is that God loved me when I was unworthy. Thanks for the reminder!!! <3
Love you, Bek! Have a great day! ~Mom
Thanks for this great reminder to love! You have a beautiful family! Visiting from WLW.