1 John 4:19-21
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
My family is very familiar with hearing me say, “I love you. I just don’t like you right now.” That phrase is easy to say about people we truly love. It is not so easy to say about people we really don’t like. Think of people who have hurt you or your family. Can you honestly say, I love you? Hard isn’t it.
This love God requires of us does not mean we have to be besties. To be honest, we don’t even have to know the person, let alone like them. What God does want us to do is be willing to forgive them, be willing to pray for them, and never shut the door on them. Again, I don’t mean you have to just let them in your life. One of my friends told me once, “We can keep the door open, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have a screen door!”
Loving others doesn’t mean they are part of your life. It means not seeking vengeance or wishing harm. You may not be there yet. Ask God to help you to be willing to be willing to love, It is a step and God will honor it.
Lord I need help being willing to be willing to love some people. I am trying. ~amen
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