A LOVE FOR THOSE YOU DON’T LIKE
“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.”
Matthew 5:46-47 (NLT)
Remember that phrase: I don’t have you like you, but I have to love you? I actually think it’s a rich theological concept, but it’s very difficult for me to live out. Look at the verse above. It talks about kindness and greeting others. The truth is, if I don’t like you, I don’t often show kindness at all. In fact, I feel some people have used the phrase, I don’t have to like you, but I have to love you, as a badge to actually be harsh and rude to others. Jesus was fully God and fully human, so let that sink in for a moment. When someone does something to us, we think there is no way we can respond with kindness or love. How could we be kind and not harsh to those who annoy us, those who are foolish, or those who hurt us? Taking it a step further, most of us think it's easy for Jesus to do because He is God. True, but He was also human; He has felt the sting of betrayal. He’s been around people who are foolish and, dare I say, probably even around an annoying person or two. Yet, He never sinned, and He loved people.
The truth is Jesus was very harsh towards the religious people and evil people, but even that came from a place of love. I don’t often love or like those who evil. Sure, I call out their sin, and I stand up with truth, but I don’t follow it up with love or kindness like Jesus does. The love that Jesus calls us to and models is a different kind of love. So much of what we call love today has stipulations and conditions, and Jesus says if that’s what you do, then you are no different than the world and not following in the ways of Jesus. Honestly, who in your life is annoying you? Who, when you see them coming, do you tear down in your mind? Who has wronged you that you have made out to be an evil person? We don’t have to trust everyone; that is earned, but we are called to be loving and kind while also standing up for the truth. If we fold on telling the truth, that isn’t love, but if we tell the truth and follow it up with judgment and bitterness, then we are no different than the world. Live like Jesus.
APPLICATION:
To live like Jesus means to love like Him!
PRAYER:
Spend time asking the Spirit to give you a supernatural love. Who has God put in your path that you can love today? Ask if there is anyone whom the Holy Spirit is calling you to love today that you have been rude, bitter or mad at.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?