By: Mitchel Popovski, Contributor
In a world defined with differences, one eternal fact remains: love has the power to heal, restore and unite, even in times of immense hatred and unrest. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I’m reminded of one of the greatest love stories ever told. It centers around a Hebrew man from Nazareth who left a throne of eternal glory behind for a crown of thorns given by a people supposedly awaiting His arrival. That story tells us the love God has for His creation, to willingly limit His power by becoming a man, dedicating His life to service and forgiveness. In His time on earth, He called those who followed to do the same. He said to His disciples, “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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” But what does it mean to love like Jesus? It’s more than doing good deeds and acting in kindness; rather, it reaches beyond comfort zones to the soul of the one it touches. It embraces outcasts, rejects public opinion and forgives without limit.
No matter how much one may try, it is hard to love in this world. It’s filled with liars, cheaters and the guy who changed the rules on Netflix to prevent account sharing – someone I personally struggle to forgive. When we are rightfully angered by such offenses, we must remember that in a world that is quick to judge others, Jesus’ example challenges us to love with an open heart, even when it’s difficult. When you look at the people who He called to spread His message, they were far from perfect. Instead of obedient and sinless followers, Jesus opened His ministry to the poor, the tax collectors and even the persecutor of His own people. He did not call these people because they had something great to provide, but because He had love in His heart for them. That love allowed them to no longer be bound by the sins of their past and to become someone new.
Often seen in modern society, our love can be transactional. I love Rob because he’s always there when I need him. I love Beth because she’s always so kind. I love the Griffin staff because they allow me to spread my propaganda. Rather than giving our love as a reward, it should be given at a baseline.
I can admit, it's easy to write an article about this, but it’s very hard to put it to practice. I struggle to love those who have offended me in the past, admittedly, and I know that I’ve also done things that have made me hard to love at times. When I see someone I don’t like in the hallways, my first inclination is to avoid them. I’ll openly complain about them to others, and act without love in mind. In some cases, this disdain is justified. However, for every offense that comes my way, I try to remember the insensitive jokes I made, the mean comments I’ve left behind and the friends I’ve hurt – all of which deserve an apology. Rarely do I ever humble myself enough to do so. But if I don’t act in love, why should I hold others to the same standard?
In the end, we ought to love like Jesus because it’s the only way to combat the hatred thrown our way. Love can be shown in a variety of ways. You can serve others, whether it be by giving food and shelter to the homeless or by simply being there for a friend in need. You can also love by forgiving someone of their past mistakes, something I need to get better at. I try to remember that if Jesus could forgive the very same people who nailed Him to a cross, how dare I not forgive those who’ve hurt me.
Comments