“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Roman’s 15:7 

We all have “difficult to love” people in our lives. People for whom we ache. We watch them stumble on the path to following God. We see them making choices that shut God out of their life. And it hurts. We want them to have a loving, revitalizing relationship with Christ and often we try to do it for them.  Sometimes we unintentionally “force Jesus down their throat.”  If only they could see the truth! If only I can persuade them to make the right choice! Ouch!!! 

Changing Hearts

It has taken me a long time to realize that hearts aren’t changed with an argument. Instead, we need “to love people to Jesus.”

Love is far more than a feeling or an emotion; it is a decision to treat people the way that Jesus would treat them. 

What does it look like “to love people to Jesus”?  Perhaps it means to love them with the same unconditional, sacrificial, and servant-hearted love that Jesus demonstrated, which is intended to point them toward Him. Perhaps it involves prioritizing their well-being, serving them selflessly, forgiving them freely, and acting with patience and kindness, regardless of their actions or whether you like them. In doing so, we’re not only loving on them, but we’re demonstrating our own love for Jesus. 

Refuse to Lose

Here in the US, the holidays are already well on their way, with Thanksgiving under our (much tighter) belts. As we are thrown into social events and dinners with extended family and occasional difficult-to-love people, The Message’s paraphrase of Paul’s advice to Timothy rings true… 

“Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26.