But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8
Let’s be honest, loving others isn’t as easy as it sounds. When we say it out loud, what a beautiful ring it has: let us simply love the people in our lives. It not only has a beautiful ring, but it’s a beautiful thing when we look out for the best interests of those around us as we defend, pray for, welcome, involve, help, correct, befriend, equip, encourage, guide, care for, speak life to, and support them. But it’s not so simple to simply love others, and here’s why: others don’t always bring out the love in us. Some of the people where we live, work and play are know-it-alls, gossips, selfish, cry-babies, back-stabbers, unforgivers, troublemakers, lazy, outcasts, judgmental, self-righteous, unkind, power-hungry, cheaters, entitled, drama queens, hypocrites, snobs, clingy, braggarts, and downright unlikeable. Who would love people like them? Jesus. Jesus would love people like them. Jesus loves people like you and me, who are just like them. Oh, didn’t you see yourself in that list above? I certainly felt like it was a mirror to my face for more than one entry. But Jesus loves us anyway. Oh, the height and depth and width of His love for sinners like you and me and them! This is what brings out the love in us for others. This is our reason to repent of being unloving, of loving selectively, and of being consumed with self-love. This is the model, means, and motivation for every expression of our love toward the people God has put into our lives. Jesus loves us. Jesus loves us. Jesus loves us. When we remember and rejoice in this, this will fan into flames our love for others. For who better to love imperfect people than those who were at their own worst when Jesus loved them anyway? We will extend love to others when we remember how wonderfully it has been extended to us.
