How to Love the Unlovable

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES 40 Days of Love

How to Love the Unlovable By Rick Warren — Jul 22, 2015 “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.” (Philippians 1:7a NIV) I’ve discovered that if people are not on my heart, they’re on my nerves. If you don’t have your kids in your heart, they get on your nerves. If you don’t have your husband in your heart, he gets on your nerves. The reason so many marriages are crumbling is that mates are reacting to each other from their minds rather than their hearts. When your wife says, “I feel depressed,” listen to her; it’s legitimate. When your husband says, “I don’t feel this is the right thing for us to do, and I think we ought to do it this other way,” listen to him. Heart love begins with understanding why others feel the way they do. Ask questions, and then listen. Hear the hurt, look for the problems, and know what makes your mate tick. You need to understand the moods of the people closest to you — why they act the way they do. If you care, you’ll be aware. How do you love people when, even when you do understand them, you find them unlovable? “God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:8 NIV). In Greek, the word “affection” is the word for intestines. In Greek society, people thought that the seat of the emotions was in your stomach and your liver. Paul was saying, “I’ve got a gut feeling of love for you.” That is not a natural kind of love. It is a supernatural kind of love. That’s why Paul said it’s not from himself, but it’s the affection of Christ Jesus. Human love wears out and dries up and dies on the vine. The only kind of love that lasts in spite of heartache and difficulty in tough circumstances is God’s love — the affection of Jesus Christ. So how do you get this kind of gut love? “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5b). God’s love is not something you work up. It is something that is poured into you by the Holy Spirit as you let him live in you day by day. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick > Talk It Over Make it a habit this week to give your full attention to people as you listen, ask them thoughtful questions, and show genuine concern. What are people’s reactions? Who do you need to express God’s supernatural love to today? How have you seen God’s love pour through you to others as you are more aware of the Holy Spirit in you? Today’s Scripture “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Great Exchange If you’ve accepted Jesus today, you are the righteousness of God! That means you are an extension of His virtue. You are approved by Him. You are in right standing with Him. Jesus not only paid the punishment for your sins, He actually became sin. He took sin upon Himself and into His being so that you could take God’s righteousness upon yourself and into your being. It’s the great exchange. Don’t let sin hold you back any longer. Don’t let the enemy lie to you and make you feel guilty and condemned. First John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If there is anything in your life that is holding you back today, confess it to God. Let Him cleanse you and make you new. Remember, He paid a great price so that you could be His righteousness. Receive it by faith and be a reflection of Him! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for cleansing me and making me new. Thank You for making me Your righteousness. Show me if there is anything in my heart that is displeasing to You. I choose to honor You with my whole being all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.” PS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQxaoimIwTA