[Faith-talk] Must you Love the Unloveable?

[Tony Sohl]

Must You Love The Unlovable

I know that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and 
abounding in steadfast love...
- Jonah 4:2 (ESV)

Sports rivalries often stimulate strong feelings about particular 
opponents and the cities they call home. The Green Bay Packers and the 
Chicago Bears don’t like each other very much, for example, and on game 
day it’s not uncommon to see scores of Green Bay fans sporting shirts 
that say: “My two favorite teams are the Packers and whoever is playing 
the Bears.”

That type of animosity is mostly good-natured … nothing like the 
intense hatred the Prophet Jonah felt for the people of Ninevah, a city 
notorious for corruption and cruelty. How much did he hate them? He 
wanted them all dead—literally and soon. But he didn’t get his wish. 
God sent the Prophet to Ninevah to preach, and quite shockingly, they 
repented and were spared from destruction. Jonah was, Scripture says, 
“displeased exceedingly” and angry.

 This raises a question: do you have to love people before you can 
minister to them? Scripture commands us to love one another, but 
sometimes it’s not easy. It’s difficult to feel warm fuzzies for those 
who wrong you—or for people who are combative, annoying or just plain 
rude. But remember this: Christ loved you first … before you loved him. 
You should do the same for others. Let love be a decision, not a feeling.

Today's One Thing
Ask God to give you a loving heart for someone you don’t like.

Go Deeper
I John 4:13-21; Matthew 7:1-12