UNLOVABLE ONES
Matthew Griffin
Today’s Scripture: “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them!” Luke 6:32, ESV
Theme: This Christmas season, love people who can’t or won’t love you back.
WHO IS JESUS TALKING ABOUT?
Every day, we are placed into situations dealing with people who get on our nerves. You know who I am talking about. They talk badly about you, they hinder your progress, and they completely oppose you. This may be the coworker who is always trying to put you down to build themselves up. This may be a family member who makes you out to be the black sheep. Whoever this is in your life, they seem to be always against you and never for you. And to put the cherry on top, even though you do your best to be their friend, to make them look good, or to be patient with them...they still use that against you. So why is it so important to Jesus that we love these people?
CHANGE THE MINDSET
Skip down further in this same passage. Jesus went on to wrap up His point by saying “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36, ESV). We are those people! We sin against God...daily. Romans 3:23 (ESV) says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Instead of giving us what we deserve, God extended mercy to us when He sent His Son to die for us. Not only that, but the Bible is full of how God continues to be merciful, loving us even when we go against Him. God created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27). We are designed to act and conduct ourselves in a manner that honors Him and follows the example Jesus set for us.
Make It Personal: Challenge yourself in this area. Who is difficult in your life? Maybe it’s that person who cuts you off in traffic...and your first reaction is to ride their bumper. For some of us, we need to buy lunch for someone who wronged us that very morning. For others, it's giving a compliment to a person who always tends to put you down. If no one is popping into your mind, ask God to point them out to you. Whoever it is, I want to challenge you to trust God and allow Him to change the way you view your enemies.
Pray: God, thank You for the love You have for me. You have been so kind and patient with me. I am deciding to trust You, rather than trusting the world to tell me to deal with my enemies. Remind me of Your mercy throughout my day and show me how to forgive and show kindness as You have shown me. You alone deserve the glory! In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Read: Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:32, Galatians 6:9, Ephesians 2:4-5, Titus 3:5, Hebrews 4:15-6
Weekly Memory Verse: “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-9 (NLT)