A Life of Giving God’s Love

Jesus Christ died for us while we were still sinners.  He loved the unlovable.  We weren’t even “good.”  We were unlovable—at least from a human point of view.  But Jesus Christ was able to take on his mission, his calling, to die for us because he lived with his Father’s love.

Romans 5:6-8 [The New Testament in Modern English]:
And we can see that it was while we were powerless to help ourselves that Christ died for sinful men. In human experience it is a rare thing for one man to give his life for another, even if the latter be a good man, though there have been a few who have had the courage to do it. Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us.

Without the love of God, it was impossible for him, and it is impossible for us, to truly love ourselves or each other.  It’s beyond our human capabilities.  But, because we have received God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ, we can now love ourselves and anyone else with God’s boundless love.

I John 4:7,9-11:
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

That’s how we can love the unlovable with the love of God.  “Unlovable” is a term that can only be used from a human point of view.  God so loved the world—no one is unlovable from His point of view.  And God’s view is the one Jesus Christ demonstrated in his life on earth.  He loved all with no respect of persons, just as his Father in heaven loved.

From the culture of Jesus’ day, here’s a glimpse into some of the different occasions where he loved the “unlovable.”

• The Unclean – Jesus loved the “untouchable” leper with his healing touch. (Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-15)
• The Poor – Jesus shared God’s love with the poor by preaching the good news of the gospel specifically to them. (Matthew 11:5; Luke 4:18, 7:22) And his example of the “poor widow” who put her last bit of money into the treasury not only reproved the rich for their showy display, but also set the standard for a true heart of giving. (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4)
• Women – Contrary to the custom of the day, Jesus spoke with great tenderness and understanding to the woman with the issue of blood who had been healed: “Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole.” (Matthew 9:20-22; Luke 8:43-48)
• Samaritans – He loved the lowly Samaritan woman at the well, considered a dog by the Judeans, teaching to her heart’s need of true worship. (John 4:4-42)
• The Outcast – He loved the man possessed with Legion of devils, who wore no clothes, lived in no home, was kept bound in chains and fetters until he himself broke them and was driven by the devils into the wilderness, night and day crying and cutting himself with stones. Jesus released him from all that devilish bondage, so that he sat at Jesus’ feet, in his right mind, having received God’s deliverance. (Matthew 8:28-32; Mark 5:1-13; Luke 8:26-33)
• Oppressors – He loved a despised tax collector, Zacchaeus. Tax collectors were considered traitors to Israel because of their profession, collecting taxes for the Romans. But Jesus went home with him, shared his life with him, and taught him God’s Word. (Luke 19:1-10)

We may have our own version of “unlovable.”  It could be the homeless military vet who sleeps outside the post office, or a selfish brother who continues to take more than his share, refusing to contribute to help the family.  Or perhaps it’s the employer who ridicules your efforts to improve working conditions on the job or the spouse who cheated on you?

I read an account in “Tortured for Christ” by Richard Wurmbrand, about two Christian men who, during the Communist oppression in their country of Romania, had made their way up to the Prime Minister and in a few moments, shared with him about salvation in Christ, imploring him to repent of his sins.

The PM had them locked up in prison and at that time, it meant cruel torture for them as well. Many years after, the Prime Minister quite ill and near death, remembered the words he had heard from those two brave witnesses for Christ, turned from his sin and received the saving grace that is in the Jesus Christ. And in his last few days, he served his new lord and savior.

Can we love bigger? I think so. Look now at this example of Jesus Christ as he was hanging on the cross.

Luke 23:34:
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

This has to be the ultimate confession of love for people. Can we do the same as our Lord? How about if we start with unlovables like these: a sister who should have “known better” but has taken up with “new” friends, and sunk deep into self-destructive enticements and won’t listen; or a friend who has been callously indifferent to your feelings and refuses to apologize and in fact blames you for the whole thing; or a jealous coworker who gets you fired from your job by telling lies to the manager. And you know I’m just getting started!

But how do we love like Jesus Christ did? That’s the BIG question. All I can say right now is “More on this later!” Love to you all!