One important caution: Love is not the same thing as trust. The more we have God's perspective, the less it will matter whether we like a person or not. When we decide to view each person as a creation of God made in His image, as someone He loves and for whom Jesus willingly died on the cross so that God could reconcile people to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19–21), it becomes easier to love with God's love. But there may also be people who we simply dislike, no matter what we do, whom we are still called upon to love. It is difficult to both despise someone emotionally and love them in deed at the same time. Often in seeking to love others in a way that is for their benefit, we find ourselves disliking them less. It will take the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us to love those we don't like. This was not always a comfortable or affectionate love, but was always truthful and a demonstration of God's grace. Whether to the outcasts of society or the people antagonist toward Him, Jesus demonstrated true love to others. We see in Jesus' life demonstration of love for what would be considered "undesirables." He called lowly fishermen and hated tax collectors as disciples interacted with the despised Samaritans and showed "sinners," Romans, women, children, and even the corrupt religious leaders of the day care, patience, forgiveness, and love. Romans 5:8 says, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." First John 4:19 says, "We love because he first loved us." Our response to God's undeserved love for us is to love others-deservingly or not. Jesus sets the example for us with His sacrificial love. Agape love does not necessarily require affection as it is not primarily about the emotions of those involved. It is a love that looks to the best interests of others and acts to meet those interests. Agape love is a selfless, often sacrificial, love wherein the object of love is the most important person in the exchange. The Greek word for love in each of the passages mentioned above is agapao, or agape love. But He does not say that we must like everyone or be friends with everyone. Jesus tells His disciples, and by extension all of His followers, to love each other (John 13:34), their neighbors (Luke 10:25–37), their enemies (Luke 6:27–28)-in essence, everyone.
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