By Guest Columnist Spencer Sullivan, Pastor, Pelahatchie Baptist
Everyone loves a great love story. Even as you read that sentence, it’s possible that your favorite love story just came to mind. Perhaps it’s from your favorite book. Maybe it’s from one of your favorite movies. “The Princess Bride” anyone? (Shameless plug: If you haven’t seen it, go watch it. You’ll be glad you did!) But even novels and movies outside of the romance genre, more times than not, include engaging love stories between the main characters that support the main plotline. When it comes to the music we listen to, approximately 2/3 of all songs are primarily written about love. We even have a holiday this month that celebrates love. To genuinely love someone and to be genuinely loved in return is one of the greatest gifts we can experience in this life.
When we think of love, especially around Valentine’s Day, we most often think of romantic love. However, today I would like us to consider love beyond just romantic love. As God is the One who created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27) and as the One who Himself personifies love (1 John 4:8), I want us to consider what God has to say about love and what He has to say about who we are to love.
1 Corinthians 13 is often referred to as the “the Love Chapter” in the Bible. Read this description: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” These words are truly beautiful, which is why they are often read or displayed at weddings or anniversary celebrations. If you have experienced deep love relationships, these words should also resonate with you, whether you are familiar with them or not. Biblically, loving someone else means putting your needs and desires to the side and considering the needs and desires of the other person as more important than your own (Philippians 2:3-4).
There’s so much more that could be written or said about how God describes love in His Word and also how He models and expresses it. But, since space is limited, I’d like to also recognize from His Word just who we are to love. This is where it could get really uncomfortable. These are Jesus’ words: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44). Did He really say we are to love our enemies? Yes, you read that correctly. Whether or not you have anyone in your life you would consider an actual enemy or not, in our culture today, division and animosity towards those that think or believe differently from one another is easy to see. Our real enemy, Satan, is constantly sowing seeds of discord, resentment, and hatred toward one another. He is the original rage baiter. But Jesus clearly instructs us to love everyone, even those who don’t love us back. We are to love those with whom we disagree. We are to love those with worldviews that are different from ours.
No doubt, this command is hard to even understand, much less obey. But, Jesus doesn’t just teach it. This is how He Himself loved people on earth and how He continues to love people today. He healed one intending to arrest Him after Peter cut his ear off (Luke 22:51). He asked His Father to forgive those that crucified Him while He hung on a Roman cross (Luke 23:34).
But, what about us? In a very real sense, as sinners against a holy God, we are His enemies. And yet He made the conscious choice to love us anyway (Romans 5:8). When we disagree with Him and think we know better, instead of hating us, He continues to love us. When we rebel against Him, instead of resentment, He extends grace and forgiveness. How different would our world and society be, if we obeyed Jesus and made the conscious choice to love the way He loves and love who He told us to love rather than only what comes naturally?
I challenge you to love differently. Love like 1 Corinthians 13. And I challenge you to take steps towards making the conscious choice to love your enemy.
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