It is easy to love the lovely
Those who are beautiful, or kind or fun
It’s not so easy to love those who aren’t
Maybe those who are prickly
Who say the wrong things, who hurt our feelings
Those are the unlovely people who we have to try really hard to love
That is what Jesus wants us to do
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye?
for sinners also love those that love them. Luke 6:32
We are supposed to be different from the sinners
and if we also don’t love those difficult people, we’re missing it
How and why are we expected to do something
that defies human expectation?
Simple answer: because the Lord expects us to love others as He has loved us
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 22:37-39
It’s not easy but God gives us the strength to do so,
we just have to receive it
when we aren’t capable of loving in our human ability
f a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:
for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,
how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20
Thinking of the parable of The Unforgiving Servant,
had he told Jesus how he really felt
and sought strength from the Lord,
he would have received that strength he needed to see things God’s way,
and, had he listened and had compassion on his servant,
would not have been cast into outer darkness
God is not looking for us to be perfect without Him
He has what we need if we just ask in humility
knowing that we need His strength to do what is right in His sight
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
Ask, seek, knock
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
Asking for compassion and kindness and love
are attributes that God looks upon with favor
and being humble, admitting our failings to Him,
bringing our needs to do His will before His throne is precious to Him
He will grant your request of ability to forgive in His strength,
to see things His way, if that is your desire
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
He does not expect us to do things on our own, in our own might
The Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide and offers us wisdom and counsel
God is there for us
Scriptural References:
Then came Peter to him, and said,
Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
till seven times? Jesus saith unto him,
I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king,
which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him,
which owed him ten thousand talents.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold,
and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants,
which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him,
and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying,
Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison,
till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry,
and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him,
O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt,
because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant,
even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors,
till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you,
if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Matthew 18 :21-35