We love because he first loved us. […] And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. - 1 John 4:19 & 21, ESV

It’s not always easy to love the people around us. Especially when they do things to hurt or anger us, it’s even harder to love them. However, we must not forgot that the reason for love is not found in us, AND that it is not contingent upon another person’s actions. If it were, our own feelings would consistently get in the way. Rather, we are called to love because He first loved us. In this realization, loving becomes not just something we WANT to do. It is something we must do, even when we don’t want to do it, out of obedience to Him who loved us when we didn’t deserve it…

Lord, my emotions often times make it hard for me to love others as you’ve called me to. Help me today to set aside my own feelings so that I might be obedient to you. Let your love for me be all the motivation I need to love others no matter what they do or deserve. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.