Our natural tendency is to love the loveable. To cast our love on those who think, talk, and act in ways that we approve. Those who behave in the contrary receive a cold shoulder, at best, or even face our wrath. Yet this is not the picture of love that is portrayed by our Lord, Jesus Christ. There was nothing loveable in us and yet He loved us nonetheless. Not only that but He also demonstrated that love by dying painfully and shamefully for us. What more? He died for us when we were at our worst. While we were yet still sinners.

Jesus models love for us. To merely love when people are properly behaved is not to love at all. We must borrow a leaf from Him and commit to love regardless of whether the other party is ‘worthy’ of our love or not. Importantly, we must remember that we are not so loveable ourselves and therefore extend much grace to others. If Christ could look at us at our worst and still choose to love us to the extent of dying for us, then we ought to do the same for others. I wonder how many marriages would be salvaged if only we loved this way. Next time you are tempted to withdraw love from your ‘favourite person’, remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12:

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

In instances like those, let us ask ourselves the question: Is this how I would like to be treated if I was in the same situation? Better yet, let us remember that this ‘Golden Rule’ really is a fulfilment of the second greatest commandment, loving our neighbours as ourselves:

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:39-40).

Reflections

1. What has been your most impactful lesson this week?

2. Ask God for grace to be able to love like Christ did, even when people are at their worst.