I am still thinking about Philippian 2:5, my daily verse from yesterday morning, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had,” and my prayer to have a Christ-like attitude in all I do. [NLT]
Decades ago, not too long after I first surrendered my life to Jesus, I asked Him to help me love people like He did. I was working for the State of California. There were quite a few women in my office, most of them I liked.
There was one lady, however, that was difficult to like. She was annoying in so many ways. I tried to avoid her at all costs. Unfortunately, we ended up on the same lunch and break schedule and often found ourselves together in the lunchroom. She decided we should be friends.
No matter how hard I tried, I could not avoid her, nor discourage her from seeking me out, which drove me to my knees. I asked God to help me break loose! Instead, He reminded me she was the answer to my prayer and that I would learn to love like Jesus when I learned to love the unlovable.
I made it my mission then to choose to love her. Amazingly, once that choice was made, it became easier. I grew to enjoy her company.
The “unlovable” are all around us. It is our “choice” how we respond to them.