Student Devotion Week 4: Loving The Unlovable

Key Verses: John 17:26, "I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Before the book is closed on the idea of loving those who persecute you, you have a little more work to do.

You've already thought about the concept of an enemy. Now, you have to figure out exactly what it means to love them.

Keep in mind that this whole conversation started because of what Jesus said in Luke 6:27: "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." The important thing is to figure out just what Jesus wants us to do about dealing with those who definitely do not love us. After all, He said we were to love them, right?

You’re probably aware that there are a few different Greek words for love in the New Testament. The word Jesus used here for love comes from the Greek word, agape (pronounced, uh-GAH-pay). The New Testament writers used agape to describe the perfect love of God for His Son (John 17:26). Agape was also used to describe the sacrificial love Jesus had for us, demonstrated by His death on the cross. Agape is the type of love that comes from God, a love that loves in spite of wrongdoings and a love that sacrifices everything for another person.

Sorry to break this to you, but this is the kinds of love you are supposed to have for those who are against you. You are supposed to love your enemies sacrificially, in the perfect love of Christ. Ouch…This is not going to be easy, is it?

Honestly, this type of love for your enemies doesn’t happen overnight. And it can’t happen without prayer, commitment, and the power of the Holy Spirit. It might take a while, but if you stick with it, you can develop the kind of heart that seeks to show the love of Christ to those who are opposed to you.

Spend some time in prayer. Visualize the people who seem set against you. Now, say a prayer for those people. Pray that God will meet their needs. Finally, pray that your heart would be softened toward them. Pray that you would begin to love them in the spirit of God’s love for you.

Trust the Lord to begin to change your heart. He will help you begin to show love to those who might seem unlovable. And through it all, you will bring honor and glory to God.