A Difficult Kinda Love

If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.

 ~ 1 John 4: 20-21

Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears
~Hebrews 12:14-17 

  

This scripture is very convicting and, if I am honest, there are times I wish I could ignore it. I find it difficult at times to love people who reject kindness and friendship and embrace malice and malcontent behavior. We are all sinners, imperfect people saved by God's perfect grace but sometimes you meet people who like to "stir the pot" and season it's contents with gossip, pride, anger and personal agendas. It is hard to be kind and show Christ's love to those who are unwilling to be loved and accept your kindness for whatever reason. 

Sometimes these relationships start off fine but somehow miscommunication occurs, feelings get hurt, or a difference of opinion takes place. Personalities clash or misunderstandings are born and never fully brought to light so the relationships become tense and uneasy. As I said earlier, we are imperfect people so when reconciliation is attempted but not fully embraced, an awkward tension is born in the relationship and love is replaced with paranoia and anger. We start to second guess everything and never give each other the benefit of the doubt. We say we get along but the reality is we are divisive. We may never say verbally we hate this person but our actions prove we are not trying to keep the bonds of peace and love even when it is difficult. 

It's difficult to love as Christ commands us to love but, we don't have to face this hardship alone. Christ is with us. If we stop and truly celebrate the love and grace given to us by Christ we are humbled and broken before Him. The bible says we are "undone" by His goodness and majesty. When we truly worship, it becomes easier to love how He loves because we are consumed by His love. It is not by our own abilities that we can reconcile and forgive, it is by His ability to reconcile and forgive us that we extend this to others. 

I find it easier to love those who are hard to love when I am focused and truly worshiping and celebrating the Giver and Creator of love. When I embrace the love and mercy given to me I can't help but extend the same love and mercy out of adoration and obedience to my Redeemer. It is easier to take the high road when we focus on the road He walked to Calvary. Our God willingly and lovingly was abused and mistreated. He calls us to willing and lovingly follow in His footsteps for our neighbor.

So I celebrate today opportunities to love how He loves. I celebrate those who make loving them difficult because He is prominently displayed when I love in difficult situations. I celebrate the love and mercy given to me on Calvary and the example He has shown so we can understand how to live more like Him. I celebrate my value and worth is not determined by those that "stir the pot" but by the One who spoke the world into existence. Let us make every attempt to keep the bonds of unity and peace. Look at each other and see our imperfections but love each other anyways. Love born out of shear gratitude to our Divine Creator is beautiful, contagious and blessed by God. Love the God you cannot see by loving the neighbor you have difficulty understanding and that my friends will cause others to be joyous and celebrate.