I’ll keep this short, but I beg you to read this slowly and thoughtfully.
Whether you are happy or not about your local election results or what’s happening on a national level (delay as I write), you are called to love if you are a Christ-follower.
We are never given the option to pick and choose whom we will love.
We are to love our neighbors (even the grumpy ones).
We are to love our family (even the dysfunctional members).
We are to love those who are right and those who are wrong (perfection and performance are never a basis for love).
We are to love those who persecute us.
We are to love our enemies.
And yes, we are to love Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and even Uncle Bob, who is being obnoxious about the election.
For those who follow Jesus, there is no wiggle room here. Love is not an option, a suggestion, or even just a good idea.
Love is a command.
We love as the Father loves us. It’s a love that embraced us at our absolute worst, by the way.
And for the record, love is a choice, not just an emotion.
A choice to care for another person whether they care for or about you or not.
A choice to serve with humility and do what is best for someone else.
A choice to surrender our rights and our needs and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
And dare I say it, it’s a choice to place our political views below, well below, our call to treat one another with honor, compassion, gentleness, and forbearance (Gal. 5:22-23).
So whether you end up terrified or thrilled about the election results of 2020, I implore you to love one another.
Love is the one command which encompasses all (yes, all) of our relationships.
Those around you are watching and listening.
Are you demonstrating faith?
Are you modeling love for the unloveable?
Are you kind with your words and in your actions?
Are you gloating or perhaps the opposite extreme, being consumed by anger or fear?
If you follow Jesus, you have chosen a different and better path: the path of love.
Enough said.
Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all.
It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else.
Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance.
Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor.
Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense.
Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.
Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others.
Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.
Love never stops loving.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8. (TPT)
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Kurt Bubna
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