Love is a powerful emotion that can bring joy, fulfillment, and meaning to our lives. But sometimes, it can be difficult to love certain people or situations, especially when they challenge our beliefs, values, or sense of self. We may feel hurt, anger, or resentment towards them, and it can be hard to let go of these negative emotions.
However, the idea of choosing to love beyond our natural inclinations suggests that we have the power to actively decide to love others, even when it doesn’t come naturally to us. This can involve making a conscious effort to understand and empathize with someone, even if we disagree with them, or finding ways to show kindness and compassion towards them, even if they have hurt us.
Choosing to love beyond our natural inclinations can be challenging, but it can also bring great rewards. It can help us to heal relationships, resolve conflicts, and build stronger, more loving connections with others. It can also bring personal growth and a sense of purpose and meaning to our lives.
Understanding the Love of God
As humans, it is often difficult to comprehend the magnitude of God’s love, as it is so far beyond our natural inclinations. We are so often driven by our own desires and selfishness, that it can be hard to understand the unconditional love that God has for us. Jesus teaches us to love even those who do not love us back, and to put our full trust in God. Jesus spoke of the love of God and the importance of understanding it: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). This is a command to love beyond our natural inclinations and to understand the immense love that God has for us.
When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” he was speaking of a specific kind of love. He was not referring to the kind of love that says, “I love you because you’re lovable.” Rather, he was referring to a love that is based on choice—a love that is not dependent on the characteristics of the person being loved. This kind of love is not easy. In fact, it often goes against our natural inclinations. We live in a fallen world, and our sinful nature wants us to love only those who are like us—those who are attractive, successful, and popular. But Jesus calls us to a higher standard. It requires us to put the needs of others above our own. It means giving up our own comfort for the sake of others. But the cost is worth it because this kind of love is the only kind that can truly change the world. If we want to see the world changed for the better, we must start with ourselves. We must choose to love others. We must be willing to sacrifice our own comfort and security for the sake of those who are lost and hurting. Only then can we hope to see the world transformed by the power of God’s love.
Ai Mea
Admin
Obeying the Command to Love
As Jesus taught, true love means going beyond our natural inclinations. We must move away from our sinful pride and selfishness and instead choose to obey God’s command to love. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). This command is a call to action for each of us to love each other as Christ loves us, no matter how difficult this may be. It requires us to forgive those who have wronged us and to extend grace and mercy to those in need. We must lay aside our pride and self-centeredness and choose to love, even if it means sacrificing our own comfort and desires.
Practicing Unconditional Love
Jesus taught us to love unconditionally, regardless of whether we are loved in return. He demonstrated this love by his own actions and instructed us to do the same. As we strive to love others as Jesus did, we must first recognize that we are all imperfect and in need of grace. We must learn to look beyond our natural inclinations and prejudices and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We must be willing to put aside our own desires and needs in order to truly love those around us. Practicing unconditional love is not easy, but it is the only way to truly live according to Jesus’ teaching. When we choose to love beyond our natural inclinations, we are following in the footsteps of Christ. We are showing compassion, mercy, and kindness to our neighbor, and in doing so, we are fulfilling the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Letting Go of Vengeance
Letting go of vengeance is a difficult concept for many of us to accept. We may feel that exacting revenge is justified and even necessary for us to feel safe and secure. However, Jesus taught us that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19). In his teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus exhorted us to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). By choosing to love others, regardless of how they treat us, we are demonstrating our faith in the Lord and trust in His justice. We can trust that He will avenge us if necessary, and that His perfect justice is far more powerful than any retribution we can bring against our enemies.
Making Room for Forgiveness
When we choose to love beyond our natural inclinations, we are in essence choosing to obey Jesus’ command to love others as He has loved us. This includes making room for forgiveness, which can be difficult to do when we are hurt by someone we love. Jesus teaches us that forgiveness is a key part of love, as it allows us to move beyond our hurt and anger and begin to heal. As we open our hearts to forgive, we free ourselves from the bondage of resentment and bitterness, allowing us to move forward in our relationships. We also learn to trust God with the outcome, knowing that He will restore the brokenness and bring healing to the situation. By making room for forgiveness, we can begin to experience the fullness of God’s love and grace.
Bearing One Another’s Burdens
In our daily lives, we are faced with the challenge of bearing one another’s burdens. This is a difficult task, as it requires us to push past our natural inclinations and extend grace and mercy to others, even when it’s hard to do so. Jesus teaches us that this is the path to true love, as He calls us to “love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Mark 12:31). When we look at Jesus’ example, we see that He was willing to go beyond his natural inclinations and take on the burdens of those He encountered. He did not seek revenge or demand recompense, but instead offered grace and mercy to all He encountered. We too can choose to follow Jesus’ example and bear one another’s burdens with compassion, understanding, and forgiveness. By doing this, we are able to extend our love to others in a way that is not based on our own selfish desires but on the love of God that is within us.
Seeking Unity and Peace
In seeking unity and peace, we are asked to live out the same kind of unconditional love that Jesus demonstrated. This means going beyond our natural inclinations, which can often lead to feelings of pride, contempt, and self-exaltation. As Jesus taught, we must learn to love our neighbor as ourselves, without prejudice or judgment. This command requires us to lay down our own agenda, and to lay aside our own selfish goals. Instead, we must seek to bring peace and unity to our relationships, even when it is not easy or convenient. We must learn to forgive and let go of vengeance, and to focus on seeking understanding and reconciliation. We must also allow ourselves to be vulnerable, and to accept the grace and mercy of God in order to move forward in love.
Serving Others in Love
As followers of Jesus, we are called to serve others in love. This is one of the greatest expressions of showing love to those around us. Jesus often spoke of the importance of serving others, especially those who are in need. He said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). By serving others, we are demonstrating that we are devoted to following Jesus and His teachings. We are also showing that we are willing to put aside our own interests for the benefit of those around us. This could mean helping the elderly with their groceries, providing meals for those in need, or even donating our time and resources to causes that make a difference in our community. Serving others in love is a powerful way to bring glory to God and show the love of Christ to those around us.
Living a Life of Compassion and Generosity
Living a life of compassion and generosity is an essential part of the teaching of Jesus. We are called to love others as ourselves, even if it goes beyond our natural inclinations. As Jesus himself said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45). Jesus teaches us to put aside our own selfish desires and instead to serve others in love. When we choose to live a life of compassion and generosity, we are following Jesus’ example of unconditional love. We are showing others that we are willing to go beyond ourselves and to truly show love to those who don’t deserve it. This is the way of Jesus and it is his command that we follow.
Offering Grace and Mercy to Ourselves and Others
Jesus taught us to love not just others, but also ourselves. In Matthew 7:12, He said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” This is often referred to as the Golden Rule, and it implies that we should treat ourselves the same way we treat others. We should be kind, merciful, and forgiving to ourselves, just as we should be to others.
But how do we offer grace and mercy to ourselves? One way is to practice self-compassion. Self-compassion means to be understanding and caring with ourselves when we make mistakes or encounter difficult times. It’s about looking beyond our failures and flaws and recognizing our inherent worth and value. It’s about treating ourselves as we would treat a friend in the same situation.
When we practice self-compassion, we can also extend grace and mercy to others. We can recognize their worth and value, too, and offer forgiveness when necessary. That’s the kind of love Jesus taught us – a love that is willing to go beyond our natural inclinations and reach out in compassion, mercy, and grace.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the love that Jesus calls us to have for our neighbors is a selfless, choice-based love that goes against our natural inclinations and requires us to put the needs of others above our own. This love is difficult to cultivate, but it is the only kind that can truly change the world. To see the world transformed for the better, we must choose to love others and be willing to sacrifice for their sake. By loving others in this way, we can hope to see the power of God’s love at work in the world.