” Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.”- 1 John 5:1-2

In The First Letter of John, chapter five, verses one through five, , we find affirmation and encouragement for those who are trying to love, others, especially, if we are trying to love someone with whom it is not easy to get along.

And what are the commandments the Jesus says all the law and the prophets rest upon? Love the Lord your God with all your heart and might and so and strength and the second is like the first love your neighbor as yourself.  This is agape love- the love that we decide on in advance, the love that does not love in return. The love that always wants the best for the other.

 In C.S. Lewis’ book of essays entitled God in the Dock, he wrote something to this effect : everybody is dealing with somebody in their life that is hard to like.  And you think, if it weren’t for them, I could be a really good Christian. I could love everybody. Lewis  gives us examples like the one who whines about everything, the one who procrastinates, the who always messes things up. Then he says this remember God has to love each person with these fatal flaws, including each of us-  we don’t see it but, each of us is  that one person for somebody, and yet God still loves us.

Our love for fellow believers does not depend on our natural affinities, racial-ethnic background, cultural heritage, shared histories, interests, political views, or bonds of affection, but is based on our status as children of God

Join us this Sunday, May 5, 2024 to learn more about how we can obey Jesus’ command to love God and one another when there are seemingly unlovable people in our lives.