1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
I remember learning this verse when I was in high school. My dad sat my family down at the dinner table one evening and read the verse. I don’t remember the context of why he shared this verse with us at the time, but the Lord definitely allowed for it to be stuck in my mind ever since then.
We talk all the time about love. We talk about how God loves us and how we are to love others because that what Jesus did. It’s probably one of the most common things we hear about.
But, isn’t there at least one person in our lives that’s just SOO hard to love?
I’m sure you can picture that persons face in your mind right now. Maybe it’s a parent or a sibling. Maybe it’s that one kid in your grade that just won’t stop bugging you. Maybe it’s the teammate who thinks they’re the best and it’s ridiculously annoying. It could be that person who broke your heart or broke your trust.
Dealing with people like that isn’t easy. And taking it step further; loving them can feel impossible.
It’s very easy to respond to these people in an unkind way or to even ignore them. But God calls us to something more. He asks us to love them no matter how we feel about them. No matter how they have treated us, we’re told to love them. He asks us to respond in a way the rest of the world wouldn’t.
Is there a person that comes to mind that’s hard for you to love? Take a second and read 1 Corinthians 13:13 with them in mind. How can you better love that person today? Make an intentional effort to be more kind and loving to that person this week. Maybe it’s a text or a quick note. Maybe it’s a simple prayer for their well being and happiness. Start with baby steps, but lean into the love of Jesus, mimicking his same actions of love.