Do you have someone in your life who seems un-lovable? No matter how deep you dig, you just can’t seem to generate a feeling of love for that person?
Most of my acquaintances are pleasing companions, but there is one or two who seem to push my buttons—they make me want to run in the opposite direction when I see them in the grocery store. With this type of person, I find I need a different kind of love … an unconditional “God love.” That means I have to allow God to love that person through me. When my sin nature only lets me see the “unlovable” qualities of someone I know, I definitely need God’s help.
Then…..I realize that in God’s eyes, I am just as unlovable—just as odd or sinful as anyone on this planet, and yet the Bible tells me that God loves me anyway. What a wonderful thought! To know the God of the universe loves me, no matter what I am or what I do. If such an awesome God can love me unconditionally, it’s a small thing for me to extend that love to others, even a person who is hard to love.
Do you have one of those in your life? Pray for God to give you His “God love,” and, pray for that person. When I pray for a “hard to love” friend, I find that compassion and concern for that person creeps into my heart … after that, love is close behind.
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:8 –
Oh Joanie, I read this and was thinking, “YES! YES! YES! Joanie understands!” And then I kept reading and all of a sudden that line of thinking changed to, “DARN! DARN! DARN! Ugh! I have a responsibility in this!” Thanks for the reminder filled with love and truth! You are a gem…and oh, so lovable in my book!
Aww…Sherry, thank you! I’m so glad you got something from the post. I was talking to myself too. God expects us to love everyone, and if we let Him, He helps us do it. 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
Nice comment, Carrie. I LOVE the EGR acronym. Thanks for your feedback. 🙂
Oh, I know what you are talking about! We called these people EGR–Extra Grace Required. 😉 Because we do need extra grace from God to be able to love (and sometimes treat) them the way God wants us to.