Jesus Is the Proof and the Pattern
“But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8 (CSB)
By now, loving the unlovable should feel impossible. That is intentional.
If Jesus had simply said, “Love your enemies,” and left it there, the command would crush us. We would either lower the standard or drown in guilt. But Jesus does not merely command radical love. He embodies it.
The cross is not just theology. It is proof.
Romans 5 does not say God loved us after we improved. It says He loved us while we were still sinners. That means God did not wait for repentance before moving toward us. He did not require emotional readiness. He did not demand a cleaned-up résumé.
He moved first. And not toward neutral people. Toward hostile ones.
That is what makes the gospel so staggering. Jesus did not die for friends. He died for enemies. He absorbed wrath rather than returning it. He gave mercy rather than leverage. This is the love He now commands.
That changes how you hear Luke 6. Jesus is not asking you to do something He refused to do. He is calling you to reflect what He already demonstrated.
The cross removes every excuse.
You cannot say, “They do not deserve kindness,” because neither did you. You cannot say, “They have wronged me too deeply,” because your rebellion ran deeper. You cannot say, “I will love when they change,” because Christ loved before you did.
This does not minimize pain. It magnifies grace.
Loving the unlovable does not mean pretending wounds are not real. It means allowing the cross to shape your response to them. The same mercy that met you in rebellion now empowers you to move toward difficult people without mirroring their behavior.
Jesus is not only the example. He is the empowerment. The Spirit who raised Him now lives in you. The love that flowed from Calvary is not distant history. It is present reality for those in Christ.
When you struggle to love, do not start with effort. Start with the cross. Let it humble you. Let it soften you. Let it remind you that you were loved at your worst. Only then can you move toward others with something that resembles Jesus.
Reflection Question
How does remembering that Christ loved you at your worst reshape how you respond to those who hurt you?
Jesus loved enemies first. That is why we can.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for loving me when I was resistant, selfish, and undeserving. Forgive me for forgetting how deeply I have been forgiven. Let the cross shape my heart and my responses. Teach me to move toward others with the mercy You showed me. Amen.
By now, loving the unlovable should feel impossible. That is intentional.
If Jesus had simply said, “Love your enemies,” and left it there, the command would crush us. We would either lower the standard or drown in guilt. But Jesus does not merely command radical love. He embodies it.
The cross is not just theology. It is proof.
Romans 5 does not say God loved us after we improved. It says He loved us while we were still sinners. That means God did not wait for repentance before moving toward us. He did not require emotional readiness. He did not demand a cleaned-up résumé.
He moved first. And not toward neutral people. Toward hostile ones.
That is what makes the gospel so staggering. Jesus did not die for friends. He died for enemies. He absorbed wrath rather than returning it. He gave mercy rather than leverage. This is the love He now commands.
That changes how you hear Luke 6. Jesus is not asking you to do something He refused to do. He is calling you to reflect what He already demonstrated.
The cross removes every excuse.
You cannot say, “They do not deserve kindness,” because neither did you. You cannot say, “They have wronged me too deeply,” because your rebellion ran deeper. You cannot say, “I will love when they change,” because Christ loved before you did.
This does not minimize pain. It magnifies grace.
Loving the unlovable does not mean pretending wounds are not real. It means allowing the cross to shape your response to them. The same mercy that met you in rebellion now empowers you to move toward difficult people without mirroring their behavior.
Jesus is not only the example. He is the empowerment. The Spirit who raised Him now lives in you. The love that flowed from Calvary is not distant history. It is present reality for those in Christ.
When you struggle to love, do not start with effort. Start with the cross. Let it humble you. Let it soften you. Let it remind you that you were loved at your worst. Only then can you move toward others with something that resembles Jesus.
Reflection Question
How does remembering that Christ loved you at your worst reshape how you respond to those who hurt you?
Jesus loved enemies first. That is why we can.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for loving me when I was resistant, selfish, and undeserving. Forgive me for forgetting how deeply I have been forgiven. Let the cross shape my heart and my responses. Teach me to move toward others with the mercy You showed me. Amen.
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