I just want to slap some people across the face with my Bible, and pretend I was being Holy. Everyone is just not easy to love, yet we are called to love everyone. I’m not talking about just saying “I love you” as casually as a waiter says, “thank you and come again.” I’m talking about the kind of love that chooses the right reaction over, let’s say that Bible slapping thing.

Love is easier said than done. Even Jesus addresses the fact that we will encounter people that aren’t very lovable (Luke 6:32-36). Yet, He wants us to love them: it’s what will show the world WE are Christ followers (John 13:35).

This means I can’t go around slapping people in the face with Bible. Okay, so now what? Loving people can be hard. Loving your enemies can be even harder. But God has promised to equip us to do everything He has called us to do. And furthermore, HE provides the strength and ability. (Hebrews 13:21) (Philippians 2:13)

Love (and its variants) are mentioned a grand total of 554 times in the KJV, so it must be important, right? But why??? Contrary to Tina Turner, love is NOT a second hand emotion. Love was the only driving force behind Jesus providing Himself to be our sacrifice, so love isn’t a guideline for Him. IT’S WHO HE IS (1 John 4:8).  If God so loved the world (John 3:16), and He isn’t willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), this means it’s up to us to spread the love folks.

Feeling like LOVE isn’t your calling? Not your gift? No worries. Remember you and I have been equipped to do this!!! Yes, we will make mistakes. Yes, we will role our eyes sometimes, and we might even walk the other way. Yes, some people are better at it than others. And No, God doesn’t expect us to get it perfect, but He does expect us to try, try, try again.

This loving people command can be a sloppy mess sometimes, but we can do it with the help of God. You may stumble over your own two feet sometimes, just like I do. You may even want to slap someone in the face with the Bible (Please don’t try this at home)!! Prepare yourself for the fumbles, fouls, blocks, and blitzes; but the game is not lost. Get back out on the field, and love again.

And one more thing, FORGIVE YOURSELF when you fail. God does.
He loves YOU more than life itself!!