Loving The Unlovable, The Different–And Yourself

Loving the unlovable is challenging at best. Even loving yourself can be difficult. Remember, Jesus gave His disciples what He called “a new commandment” (John 13:34). That commandment was simple, but difficult. “Love one another, as I have loved you” John 15:12, 17.

We are living in times that love is needed, it’s even sadder when different religions can’t come together, but yet say they are Christians. It’s time to put the differences aside so we all can rise up to the love that God wants us to have. We can’t help someone who is lost, if we can’t love our brother and sister in Christ and those of the world. When I say love, it’s agape love, not that love that some of us half-give .

I understand in life and circumstances we must live with differences, but as followers of Christ we should live peacefully with others who do not share our values or accept the teachings upon which they are based.

We are all equally created in the image and likeness of God.

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make in Our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female.” (Genesis 1:26-27).

God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to lay down His life for us (John 3:16). That includes all ethnic groups.

God doesn’t show partiality or favoritism, neither should we. James 2:4 describes those who discriminate  as “judges with evil thoughts.” Instead we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.

“Again, a new commandment I write into you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” (1 John 2:8).

Take myself for instance, years ago I gave up on loving others or even letting others love me. It wasn’t Christ like; but I wasn’t Christ like. You can’t love if you can’t love yourself. When I started loving me, everything else fell into place.

This is something we all need to sit down and revisit. Starting today, let love serve as a blueprint for your life.

My question to you: How can you love the unlovable or someone who is difference from you?