Loving the Unlovovable - Talk 6

I have had occasion to ponder on this very serious subject -matter and the direction I am receiving is to treat this in three biblical case studies.
The first is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who though he knew that Judas would betray him and for 30 pieces of silver not only washed his feet but admitted him to share with him in the Passover.

Our first response could have been to search him out for immediate firing squad for treason but the King of Kings and Lord of lords condescended to love a totally unlovable man. It is unfortunate that at the end he never repented and at the cross our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said, after grievous provocation even stabbing him on the side. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The second is Stephen in Acts 7:51-56: “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One – the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”
The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honour at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” he fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

The third was Moses. God offered to raise a new generation through him but with a heart of love for the unlovable children of Israel he pleaded with the Father, and the word say unequivocally that God repented. What greater expression of love could we have, aware of our personal and selfish interest.

Love, agape love is unconditionally made manifest in our acts of charity and service to others, including those we may not even know or like. Love your neighbour as yourself, for love suffereth long, love is kind, love envieth not is not puffed up love seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh not evil, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things and endureth all things even the unlovable. It is the first fruit of the Spirit and comes as a gift from God.