Loving the Un-lovable
We all know the command that Jesus gave in regards to love. John 15 says that the world will know that we are Christ’s disciples by the love we show one to another. John then takes it a step further in chapter 4 verses 7 – 21 of his first epistle. Amongst other things, John urges us to abide in love. And if we abide therein, we also abide in God because God himself is love. As a believer, love should be the fuel that drives us to do everything in life. Not for our sake, but for the ones whom we are loving. Just as love compelled Christ to die on the cross. Not for his sake, but for ours. And now because of the glorious work that Christ flawlessly fulfilled on the cross, we are able to love as he loves. Yes, this also means loving the un-lovable as Christ loves them.
There are many examples of Christ’s love throughout scripture, but I think John 4 reveals the depth of Christ’s love and is a perfect picture of what our love should look like. In John 4 we read the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. To help you properly understand why this encounter is so profound, let me give you a little background on Israel and Samaria.
- Jews hated Samaritan’s, they called them half-bloods and uncleaned because they were a nation mixed with Israelite & those who the Assyrians saw fit to bring into the land.
- It was frowned upon for a Jew to eat with a Samaritan.
- Jews would avoid having interactions with a Samaritan.
- If a Jew had to travel in the direction of Samaria, they would travel around the country to avoid stepping on Samaritan land.
Just as he had done so many times in the Gospels, Jesus comes along and destroys all these stereotypes.
- Jesus doesn’t deal with the woman in hate, but instead in love and preaches the Gospel to her. (John 4:10-14)
- Jesus asks the woman for a drink. (John 4:7)
- Jesus not only spoke to the Samaritan woman, but eventually the entire town. (John 4:27-30)
- Jesus not only walked on Samaritan land, but stayed there two days preaching the gospel. (John 4:39-43)
If we can take anything from this passage it is this; Our lord is passionate about saving all of humanity, and not just those who we deem worthy of the Gospel. As you go about your day, I pray that just as our Lord overcame stereotypes, you will do the same. Keep John 4 in the forefront of your mind and preach the gospel even to those whom we or the world deem un-lovable. Today let us love even as our Lord loves.
Amen! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
3 Comments. Leave new
Good word, Don! Very encouraging. Reading this I couldn’t help but think of John 13, where Jesus loves his disciples by washing their feet. He knows the end is coming, and he predicts Judas’ betrayal in that very same passage … but right in the middle of that, Jesus washed Judas’ feet, too. That nails me every time.
There should literally be no limits to our willingness to humble ourselves and love others as an overflow of loving our God, who first loved us, by sending His Son to be a propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:8-11).
Thanks for this encouraging and challenging reminder!
Great read, we must continue to pray for the wicked that they will allow God to one day come into their heart and we must continue to show them love, even when they don’t deserve it.
Yes we living very last time and many believers life has love been so weak and and we need the Holy Spirit to fild us that we can love more in Christ over our enemies too and love gospel to share are my hope more and more and share love to the cool world ,thanks bless,keijo sweden