Hey, friends!
For this post, I want to talk about how we love other people. This has really been on my heart lately. I think it's vital that we approach all of our interactions with others from a place of kindness and understanding. Everyone's been hurt one way or another and sometimes we bring those experiences into new situations and let them color our future friendships and relationships.
But the Bible says that love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). If we go around with a list in our minds of all the ways we've been let down or disappointed by others, we'll be fearful about letting our guard down and trusting others. And this is not a healthy way to live. C. S. Lewis himself said that, "To love at all is to be vulnerable." I recently heard another quote that said that, "True love begins when nothing is looked for in return." This might sound completely backwards until you realize the truest form of love - God's unconditional love for us in sending Jesus to the cross to die for us WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS (Romans 5:8). God didn't wait for us to accept Him before He accepted us. True love doesn't concern itself with its own pride, it doesn't put itself first, it's not afraid to lavish affection - because it's not about what you are GETTING, but what you are GIVING.
Understanding God's great love for us sets us free to love others without strings attached, without expectations, without demanding a certain response. God desires us to come into relationship with Him by accepting His love and believing in what Jesus did on the cross. But our refusal of this won't stop God from loving us. Atheists are still being pursued by God - even in their blatant rejection of Him. Every single person on this planet is being pursued by the love of God. Whether or not you realize it, right now God is chasing down your heart and longing for you to receive His love.
As Christ-followers, those of us who have responded to God's love, we must always believe the best about others. This doesn't mean that we are not wise or discerning in our relationships, but I believe it's imperative that we extend people the benefit of the doubt. We give without expectation. We speak words of life over those around us. We extravagantly show love and kindness to those around us - not because they deserve it or earned it or treated us well - but because Jesus died for them. Every single person you meet is made in the image of God and fiercely loved by Him and this alone compels us to love them - because God loves them.
If I can give you one tip to improve all of your relationships, it would be this: Love unconditionally. Give without expecting to get. Love without expecting to be loved. Forgive (again, and again, if you have to) without an apology. Believe the best even when you're tempted to cast judgment. Give grace when you don't understand. In short, love your friends, your spouse, your significant other, your parents, your family members, your neighbors - love them with Christ's love. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to love like Jesus loves.
This is how He loves:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8