Loving The Unlovely

Loving The Unlovely


An Everyday Christian Devotional
By Stephanie Romero


Let’s face it; life is filled with unlovely people.  It is easy to love those we care about but it becomes a much bigger challenge when it comes to those who are, well, just plain hard to love.

I used to make the excuse that I’m not Jesus so how could I be expected to love as He does?  I dismissed the idea of striving to be like Him and instead, used it as a justification for my choices.

I would reason within, how can you possibly love someone who is so difficult?  How can you love someone who is not willing to receive it?  It seemed like wasted energy and I would have rather spent it on those who would not only receive it but give some back.

Here is what I have come to realize.  The more I love Jesus, the more easily I can love others.  When I am not filled with the love of God then I don’t have any to offer.  It’s hard to give what you don’t have.

So I stopped making excuses and rationalizations and I began to focus on God’s love.  When I truly came to understand (as much as I can in human terms) the depth of His love, I was able to begin to dispense it out onto others.  Yes, even to the unlovely.

This is not something we can do in our own strength.  We need the Lord to help us.  But it is possible.  We just have to be willing to let go of the excuses and begin to live out the Word.  It became about more than just reading the Word, it became living it.

I have found that when I am able to love the unlovely, I suddenly see them differently.  I may see past their imperfections to the beautiful person within.  I may realize that they are actually hurting or in need.  I may come to understand that they have lived a difficult life.  It’s like my eyes are opened.

May all our eyes be opened and may we be equipped to love the unlovely.