I’m sick of how she always takes the last one, without ever considering the needs of others. She’s so annoying, she’ll never change!
And that new guy? He seems to think that he’s in charge of this place, doesn’t he get that there’s a certain order to things? And those snarky comments? What does he know, anyway!
The not-so-nice neighbors
That love thy neighbor-thing can be painstakingly difficult at times. Some people seem to work hard at making themselves downright unlovable, whether they’re writing hideous comments on social media or harassing their local neighborhood, hurling hate and misery at anyone they disagree with… which is pretty much everyone.
I find myself fighting to keep them at bay, trying to dodge the verbal punches and avoid being infected by their venomous outrage. It’s just very hard to like some people and equally difficult to respect them. So, I don’t.
Nevertheless, Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
So annoying! How could he! Doesn’t he get that some people are just not worthy of our love and affection?
Yes, he gets it. Just as he gets that you and I were never worthy of his love. Ouch.
He still loved us, even before we knew him. He never held back.
How do we love the unlovable?
The aggressive, the hateful, the bitter?
Heidi Baker would say: “One at a time!”
And she’s right. Instead of distancing ourselves, we lean in.
We love.
We respect.
We speak life.
Our words are powerful. We are called to live a supernatural lifestyle, speaking out what yet can’t be seen and calling it to life. We get to call forth the gold in people. Everybody possesses God-given qualities that they may not be aware of, or that they have misguidedly been using for the wrong purposes.
What do our neighbors look like from God’s perspective?
Could the aggressiveness be a disguise for a hunger for justice?
Is it possible that the hostility hides a God-given need for connection, perverted by fear of rejection?
Could it be that the bitterness provides a seemingly bulletproof cover for the hurt and the desperate need for a Healer?
What does our neighbor look like through God’s eyes?
We get so caught up in the wrapping that we fail to explore the treasure within. Because that’s what they are. Our neighbors are God’s beloved children, no matter whether they know it or not.
In a culture of honor, we celebrate who people are without stumbling over who they are not. – Bill Johnson
We partner with Heaven as we celebrate the gold that God has deposited in every single being. Call forth the light and watch the darkness evaporate.
Our words matter.
Read more about how to honor the people the people you disagree with here: