Love one another. It sounds so easy. But I find that it isn’t nearly as easy as it sounds.
Oh, I find it easy to love the people that act like me. That believe like me. That have the same lifestyle as me. That like the things that I like. Those people…no problem.
But what about those that are different from me? What those that make choices that I wouldn’t make? Do I have to love them too? Yes, I do!
Jesus didn’t tell the disciples, “Love those that act, look and believe like you do.” He said, “Love one another. As I have loved you…” He loves everybody. ALL PEOPLE. Not only those that obey him.
He died for all of us.
This world is full of people NOT. LIKE. ME.
I work with people NOT. LIKE. ME.
But I am called to love all people.
My neighbor who is noisy or has a yard I don’t like. My co-worker that makes my life miserable at times or chooses a different lifestyle than me. The person who cuts me off in traffic.
I am also called to love those less fortunate than me. There are many bloggers and people I know that minister to the less fortunate. They travel to Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras and many other place to minister to those with much less than themselves. And most of them come back changed. No longer the person they were when they left home.
God hasn’t called me to do go to any of those places. He hasn’t called me to do anything really big.
But he has called me to love. All people. And to be honest, I find that hard to do.
I expect the Lord to forgive me of my sins. Can I not pardon my neighbor? The co-worker that makes life difficult. The person that chooses a lifestyle different than mine. The rude store clerk, the person that cuts me off in traffic, the person in the security line at the airport that does travel by air often and doesn’t know the rules…the people I meet during the day that are different than me. I am called to love them. All of them.
I find it hard to do…but I am working on it.
Hi Mary,
So true. We are all called to love each other, especially those who are not easy to love. Thanks for these reminders.
It IS hard. And then when I love someone who is "difficult" to love, I put myself on a high horse and think "well, there's my good deed." It's so hard to overcome. Thank goodness Jesus is a friend of sinners 🙂 Good luck with your writing…this space always inspires me. I will pray for clarity for you.
"He hasn't called me to do anything really big.
But he has called me to love. All people."
That IS big, Mary. Probably the biggest thing ever. And probably the hardest thing ever. I'm right there with you in the struggle. Sometimes it's too hard to even love those who ARE like me. ha.
Praying for your journey on this path of love as well as what God wants for your writing….
Dear Mary
Yes, not only those that irritate us, but our enemies as well. That is truly not easy. When I am in such a situation, I have learned to ask our Pappa to fill my heart with His love for that person. He loves doing that!!
Blessings from Michellle"s.
Mia
Sweet Mary … Praying for you as you continue to pursue God's dreams for your life. You're beautiful. ~ Jennifer Dukes Lee
I am right with you on trying to zone in on my God size dream and His direction and I will be praying for you as you seek His will….
As far as loving "all others" that is a hard one sometimes and it seems situations come up constantly that reminds me that I can't just talk the talk but walk the walk….