Loving the unloveable, people who rub us the “wrong” way and are difficult to love, is something we all face. The good news is there exists a supernatural response that can turn loving the unloveable into a happy possibility.
When I was in university, I lived in a large house with a lot of other girls. The older ones, like me at that time, were assigned younger ones to build a relationship with and to help them adjust. My first go around was easy and fun, but the second one . . . .
It felt like Sue and I had little in common, and I felt She did not exactly like me, for whatever reason. (Not her real name.) I was studying CRU’s transferable concepts at that time. The one titled “How to Love by Faith” was a timely one to put into practice. (I suspect Henrietta Mears used this concept in her life and ministry more than once.) I did my study of how to love by faith, then God gave me the opportunity to put it into practice with Sue.
To begin, I had to remember the great commandment Jesus gave us. First we are to love God, then we are to love others as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:34-40) Until we tap into God’s resources, I really don’t think we can begin to understand how self-centered we really are.
Matthew 5:43-47 makes this clear: “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”
Ouch!
Several months ago a friend asked me how would I respond if I was seated at a dinner party next to a specific person with decidedly different ideas and opinions from mine.
Ouch! Again, at least at first.
It is down right impossible to love the unloveable . . . if I am doing it from my own power. The good news is that the Holy Spirit reminded me that I can choose to think with a natural, human mindset, or I can choose to ask the Holy Spirit to help me do things God’s way. We know about the fruit of the Spirit. Love is first on the list. Galatians 5:23-24.
Paul also tells us in Romans 5:5: “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” The unending supply of love that brings us undeserving people into relationship with our Creator, also can flow though us to enable us to love the unloveable. All we need to do is ask. The Word promises us that our prayers are answered when we pray according to the will of God. Our Creator commanded, so the love will come if we ask, and let it.
So how did it go with Sue? When I humbly asked God for help, and I stepped out in faith to be loving and helpful, we became genuine friends. And, I began to learn about the power of God’s love in ordinary people, even me, if I seek the help of the Holy Spirit.
And my response now to the possible dinner scenario? After my initial discomfort, which was probably the Holy Spirit convicting me of my lack of connection to God’s love, and all the baggage that inspired that lack, I became almost excited at the thought of that meal. Imagine having the opportunity to take genuine interest in another, regardless of our differences. There is so much I might learn. If given the opportunity to demonstrate the love of God, I am now ready to genuinely let God love through me.
Can you think of someone you can reach out to in order to invite the Holy Spirit to love through you? Pray and let me know how it goes.
