Read Ezra 4:1 through 6:22; John 13:31 through 14:10
“The Bible says I have to love him; it doesn’t say I have to like him.”
Sometimes Christians say this in an effort to allow themselves to continue holding grudges against others or to justify continuing to show a lack of love. The truth, however, is that if Christians can’t find something to like about someone, they will have a very difficult time showing the love of Christ to that person. Jesus set a high standard for the kind of love His people are to show each other:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
Jesus’ command to love one another is accompanied by an example of what He means by that statement. Christians are to love others as Jesus loves people. Jesus loved people enough to sacrifice himself while those people were still enemies of God. His love is pure, self-sacrificing, and completely forgiving. This kind of love goes far beyond just liking someone. It is only possible when Christ truly lives inside someone.
PRAYER SUGGESTION: Ask God to help you love difficult people.
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