It's In the Mail and...Loving the Unlovely in our Lives

The Kingdom Assignment envelopes are going into the mail today. On Monday I will share the assignment here at Spiritually Unequal Marriage and some of the amazing stories of others who desired to honor Jesus and love their neighbor.

I hope you are moved and filled with ideas about your own assignment. Please (click here if you have not sent me your snail mail address.)

Loving the Unlovely in our Lives:

So , I have a question for you. Are you growing in your love for God and are you growing in your love for people?

Galatians 5:14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Mathew 7:12 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

I submit this statement for consideration: You only love Jesus as much as you love the most unattractive person you know.

Is this true? If it is true, how do we love that person who is a child abuser, or an ex-husband, a boss who is critical, a mother who is cold distant or even cruel. What about a spouse who hates Jesus?

How?

Looking forward to your wisdom and your scripture verses. Be Blessed, Lynn

Comments

[BP]

I will look forward to reading the responses. That is such a hard question.

One thing I often think about when I hear stories about criminials is how that person is someone's son or daughter. Then I think how even though they mess up, God still loves them. It is something I think about often.

[Cheryl]

When I first read this, I am thinking YES! I am growing in my love for GOD! The next question, I feel like I AM growing in my love for people. When you ask about loving a child-abuser etc......I have to really think about this one. I know they need us as Christians to love them. I am a Christian and I am human. I do have faults. I need to pray about this one! Something to think about~~ Great post Lynn!

[Debbie]

It can be very challenging to love the unlovely. But that is what Christ calls us to do. It's easy to love those who are kind to us but if we truly believe what the Bible teaches, we are to love all. Now, that doesn't mean we agree or excuse bad behavior. But only the Lord knows what's in a person's heart, what life circumstances impacted them and also ... who they will become.

When I was working as a nurse, I can't tell you how many times I was yelled and screamed at by Type A personality people who had heart disease. They were usually angry at the doctor for being late or something like that.. but they took it out on me. I remember praying silently that I would be able to see them through the eyes of Jesus... and then to love them. So many of them were scared and were simply acting out of frustration. When I declined to respond likewise, many of them became embarassed and backed down.

We can show the love of Christ to others in the way we respond to the unlovely.

[Denise]

We are to love all others, as Jesus graciously loves us.

[Cindi]

I love Debbie's statement at the end of her comment. "We can show the love of Christ to others in the way we respond to the unlovely." So true, so true.
Well stated Debbie,thanks!

[Melanie]

"You only love Jesus as much as you love the most unattractive person you know. " Honestly, Lynn, my first thought when I read this statement was "Ouch!" There never was a truer statement, but I first thought of everyone that I not treated as I should, people I have not listened to as I should, etc. When I then take that and think of how it shows my love for Jesus it is painful!

I pray that as I let the Lord work with me in this area of my life that I will learn to love others better and, in turn, love Jesus better.

I love your posts on this subject, Lynn! Oh, how I wish we had an opportunity to sit down together and discuss in person... what a wonderful time growing in the Lord together that would be!

I am so excited to get my Kingdom Assignment this week. I'm anxiously awaiting my mail carrier's stop at my house!

Have a blessed week!

[Iris]

Wow, girl that is heavy...You are right though...Truth can be heavy sometimes...Thanks for sharing your thoughts on love.