The opposite of emotional love is hatred. Love is a feeling of euphoria, attracting you to someone, while hatred is a feeling of disgust and loathing towards someone.
The opposite of God’s love, which we are called upon to embrace in our lives, is selfishness. God’s love can manifest an emotional sense of love, but never confuse the emotion for the true substance of love. God’s love does not depend upon emotions. It depends upon our willingness to give ourselves to God and place His will above our own. It is sacrifice.
Everyday God calls upon His followers to lay down their lives. Everyday you are called to a sacrificial life for the sake of others. This is love. Love is sacrifice of self. Love is placing others interest above your own. It means being a servant to all.
It doesn’t matter how you feel about someone. You could hate that person emotionally and yet love them with the Love of God. You need to sacrifice your hatred on the alter of God and love them for the sake of their eternal soul. That is not easy, but it is what God calls us to do.
Is there someone in your life you hate? Someone you would love to see in some sort of pain? Whatever they have done to you, God calls you to love them. He does not call upon you to stop feeling emotionally negative towards that person, but you are called upon to love them. Put them first before your own desires.
Loving someone does not mean you let them hurt you again. Loving another person does not mean demeaning yourself or exposing yourself to that person’s negativity towards you. Perhaps, you can not be around them without enduring some type of harm. In that case you do what you can. Pray for them. Pray for God to bless them and take care of them. Do whatever you can to be a positive force in their life. That is the love God calls you to.
Photo Credit: PRAYERS & PROMISES FOR EVERY DAY - Corrie ten Boom by Corrie ten Boom
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