We are living in such sad and strange times. Most of what I see is anger, hate, and pain. I can’t help but wonder if we have lost the will to love. Have we lost all ability to be kind and understanding? Even the ability to agree to disagree seems to elude us. We now live in a society where if you don’t agree with someone you need to punish them because that person is obviously full of malintent. We are slipping farther and farther away from God…and it’s scary.

            As Christ-followers, we need to follow Jesus’ example of love. Everything He did, He did in love. Even when any normal person would have gotten angry, He showed love and compassion. As He hung on the cross, rather than scream obscenities or curses at those who put Him there, He prayed that God would forgive them. That kind of love can only come from Him.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” – 1 John 4:7-11

            So…who deserves our love? That’s a question most people would ask. People need to deserve your love in order to give it, right? Well, according to Jesus, we are to love EVERYONE. In the book of Luke, we see Jesus telling a lawyer how to inherit eternal life. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself”. As the story goes on, Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan which explains who our neighbors are.

            From this story, we can see that our neighbors aren’t always people we like, or know, or even agree with. In those times Jews are Samaritans were enemies. So, the fact that a Samaritan would show love to a Jew was unheard of. We may not agree with someone, but that does not mean that they don’t deserve to be treated with love. By doing so, not only do we inherit eternal life, but we can feel good knowing that we showed love and compassion to another human being. That’s what Jesus wants us to do.

“So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” – Luke 10:36-37

            Trust me, I know what it’s like to get frustrated, angry, or even annoyed with others. However, God can help give you the love, compassion, and understanding you need to give to others. It doesn’t mean that you become a pushover or that you need to abandon your values to make someone else happy. Time and time again we see Jesus stand up for Himself when He was being tested and He also revealed the hypocrisies of others in love and truth. We need to learn not to get swept away with emotions and begin a fight. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. We just need to rely on God to know when those times are.

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins…In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” – Proverbs 10:12,19

            In a world that is so eager to jump down each other’s throats, show love, compassion, and understanding. It goes without saying that you should treat others the way you would want to be treated. However, don’t wait for someone else to make the first move, you be the first to show them the love God has given you. It may be hard at times, but just ask God to give you what you need to be that kind of person. Let us learn to love each other again.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35