How Can You Love Someone That Isn’t Lovable?

Q: Some of our relatives are coming to our house for the July 4th holiday, and to be honest, I’m dreading it, because some of them are really obnoxious and hard to like. I know God expects us to love everyone, but how can you love someone who isn’t loveable? — M.J.

A: It’s true God wants us to love others — even those who aren’t particularly loveable. Jesus said, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? … Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5:46-47).

The key is to understand that God wants us to treat other people the same way He has treated us — not because we deserved His love, but simply out of His mercy and grace. Are we loveable in God’s sight? Do we deserve His love? No, not at all. At best, we’ve often ignored Him and treated Him as if He didn’t exist; at worst, we’ve deliberately rebelled against him and done everything He doesn’t want us to do.

And yet God still loves us! He loves us so much that He sent His Son into the world to give His life for us. God didn’t wait for us to clean up our lives or become perfect; He reached out to us in spite of our sin. The Bible says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

As your family gathers, ask God to help you see them through His eyes, and welcome them with His love. Pray for them — not only that they won’t be difficult, but that they’ll sense Christ’s love through you. In addition, ask God to help you plan activities that will keep them occupied, and even enjoying each other.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

(c)2018 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.