The Art of Loving the Unlovable
Read the Text: Luke 6
Memorize the Text: But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you pray, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27-28)
Consider the Text: Luke 6:27-36
Loving others can be a laborious task. Many people act toward other people in manners that are harsh and create a dynamic where loving the difficult person is hard. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount of the importance of not only loving those who love you, but love those who are against you. The main point for the followers of Christ to understand comes as the call to love in a manner that the world does not fully understand and yet desires to experience. Jesus provided the canvas on which we must learn the art of loving the unlovable.
Jesus gave a DIRECT INSTRUCTION TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES. The call came as a directive that must be followed and not mere information alone. Jesus required that we hear the expectations of the Lord and practice obedience in carrying out loving our enemies. The ability to follow takes two moments of intentional acts. We must intentionally listen to the Lord for direction and then we must intentionally follow the directive. The intentional nature of the disciple sets the stage to hear properly and obey the Lord.
The call to love our enemies counters the natural tendency of the flesh. Our earthly desires seek revenge and treating people in a manner that is equal to their treating of us. Jesus’ declaration challenges believers to live in a manner that counters cultural norms and exemplifies the Kingdom of God. The ability to love in a way that fulfills Christ’s calling comes only from the Lord and cannot be manufactured by humanity. Thus, we are called to love the unlovable in a love that mirrors the love Christ demonstrated for us in the death, burial, and resurrection.
The call becomes a reality when we develop the ART OF LOVING OUR ENEMIES. The act of love begins with sacrifice. We must put down our right to respond in the flesh and choose to respond in the love of Christ. The motivation to love in this way comes from the intention to live like Jesus, even when facing difficulty and persecution. Jesus spoke to this in the Beatitudes when he instructed people in how to deal with those who persecute us.
The art of loving our enemies is noticed when we live in a manner of doing good. This means that we readily turn the other cheek when we face harm and hurt. We seek to go above and beyond what is expected of us. Jesus explained that if we are commanded to go one mile carrying something, then we should go two. The key is that love must be active and not passive. It must be lived out and not just spoken. Another critical component to this type of love is that we love expecting nothing back. Thus, the art of loving others is an act of loving in a manner that desires good for others and is sacrificial.
When we love our enemies, then we display a GREAT POWER. The power displayed in loving others comes from the love that God has for us. He extended love to us though we lived in an unlovable manner. Thus, we live propelled to extend the love of Christ to others. We recognize that such an approach opens the door for an invitation for them to follow Jesus. This occurs as they experience the love of Christ through being loved despite their unlovable ways. This form of love has the power to destroy barriers and open new opportunities to share Christ.
When we think about the world around us, there are many people to are unlovable. Each of them provides a challenge for us to love them like Christ. As followers of Christ, we receive the calling to live for Christ and as a result, love like Christ. We need to take a moment and assess who we have in our lives that we struggle to love and make the commitment to love them no matter what.
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
