"A new command I (Jesus) give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34)
Today's Truth - God produces the fruit of the Spirit in us by allowing us to encounter situations and people with characteristics that are the exact opposite of the fruit of the Spirit!
As we continue our quest to change by God's power, loving the unlovable sometimes takes a supernatural power! God's Word gives us 5 steps to follow - not always easy ones - but effective if we make the choice to put them to the test!
1) We must feel and understand how deeply God loves us. Ephesians 3:17 - "that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." God showed His love for us by sending His Son to die for our sins (John 3:16) while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). Can you understand that love today?
2) We must forgive those who have hurt us. "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13. Anytime you resent someone, you give them a piece of your heart, your attention, your mind, your energy, your ability to love, etc. Can you afford to give all this away?
3) We must think loving thoughts. "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:4-5. Hurting people hurt people. If instead of thinking about a person's faults and we begin to think about their needs, it will change the way we see them, which will change the way we feel about them, which will change the way we act toward them. Try it and see!
4) Act in a loving way. Have I lost you yet? These steps seem to grow in difficulty, but the reward of implementing them in your life far outweighs the discomfort. In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus commands (not suggests) that we: 1) love our enemies 2) do good to those who we don't like and vice versa 3) bless those who curse you and 4) pray for those who mistreat you. Does anyone come to mind? What one thing can you do today to act in a loving way toward the unlovable in your life?
5) Expect the best of even those you don't like. Probably the most difficult step yet! When we expect the best, we bring out the best. When we expect the worst, we get the worst from people. This is love by faith. And loving by faith is the greatest force in the world. Love is contagious and it changes people.
My challenge this week is to take a baby step toward loving the most unlovable person in your life ~ not in your own power, you know how far that will get you - BUT in God's power..."God has not given us the spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
*Taken from God's Power to Change Your Life by Rick Warren
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