Loving those you don't want to

I'm reading Philip Yancey's book 'What's So Amazing About Grace' at the moment - and what a book it is. It's a stunning reminder of the wonder that is the grace of God, and how amazing and crazy this grace is. At the end of one of the chapters, Yancey gives a quote that stopped me in my tracks. It's not often anything really affects me that much, but these 16 words really jumped out the page at me. I think they're extremely challenging -

"I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least."

Think about that. Isn't that so challenging? I know for me, it was a real wake up call. It's so easy to proclaim how much we love God and want to be like Him, but then I read this and I realise how far from being like God I am.

We all have people in our lives that we really don't want to love, and quite often we just blot them out. Jesus didn't do that. He befriended those who society rejected, and made them his closest followers. Jesus didn't turn a blind eye at the poor, the needy, those craving attention in a mixed up world. He loved them, loved them with a love that breaks all barriers and transcends all worldy concepts and rules.

And that is the love that we are called to. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be more like Him, and this unconditional love, this grace, is one of the most striking and vital parts of Jesus' love and ministry. It's something that I struggle with, and something that I long to get better at, with the help of God.

May the grace of God shine through me, and may I become more like Him.