Sometimes people (whether family, friend or foe) are venomous, toxic, destructive. Their attitude and actions will limit the level of interaction and intimacy that we can have with them. However, we as Christians cannot allow their attitudes and actions to keep us from loving them. Remember, God expects and equips us to love our enemy, our neighbor and our spouse.
Love Your Enemy:
Matthew 5:44
(44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
and
Luke 6:35
(35) But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Love Your Neighbor:
Galatians 5:14
(14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love Your Wife (likewise, wives, love your husbands):
Ephesians 5:25
(25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
and
Ephesians 5:28
(28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
and
Colossians 3:19
(19) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
The Nature of Love...
Christian love is sacrificial, it is not saccharine.
Christian love puts God first.
Christian love does not compromise the will of God.
Christian love brings division.
But in spite of all the problems that sinners present to Christians, Christians are to be perfect in love, as our Father in heaven is perfect in love.
Matthew 10:36-40
(36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
(37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
(39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
(40) He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Matthew 5:46-48
(46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
(47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
(48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 10:36-40
(36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
(37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
(39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
(40) He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Matthew 5:46-48
(46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
(47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
(48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
