SCRIPTURE:
"And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." 2 John 1:5-6
OBSERVATION:
From the beginning, it was always about love (John 3:16) because God IS love (1 John 4:8) and we have been commanded to love (Matthew 22:37-39).
APPLICATION:
It’s easy to love those who are kind to us, but what about those who aren’t?
Years ago, there were a few brothers I knew who were very argumentative. They complained, spoke poorly of others and I would often find myself getting into disagreements with them. One day after one of these conversations, I came home complaining to anyone who would listen, to which my wife asked this one simple question - Are you praying for them?
If I’m being honest, I wasn’t.
Later that night, heeding my wife’s advice, I began praying for one of them. The Holy Spirit revealed the difficulties this brother was going through and I was able to step back and see his situation with the Lord’s eyes. My compassion for him grew as I realized the challenges he was faced with, and in turn my ability to love him grew as well.
A funny thing happens when we pray for those who we are asking the Lord to change. Oftentimes, they may not but something inside of us does - Our love for them. When faced with the command to love the unlovable, the first place we can start is in prayer and putting ourselves in their shoes.
PRAYER:
Father Almighty. Forgive me Lord when I have withheld love from people because I felt entitled to. Give me Your eyes, Your ears and Your heart to love all of Your children, this I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
