Have you ever heard the saying, “Those who are hardest to love are the ones who need it most”? In today’s Tuesday Thoughts, we will explore how to love hard-to-love people. Jesus was the best at loving the unlovable. He is our example. Let’s dive in!
The Woman Caught in Adultery John 8:1-11
In John 8, we read about an interaction between Jesus and a woman who was about to be stoned to death because she was caught in the act of adultery. Sin requires payment, and she was about to pay the price with her life. As the stoning was about to commence, Jesus stepped in, wrote a message in the sand, and said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” One by one, her accusers leave. Jesus then turns to the woman and says, “Neither do I condemn you; Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11, NKJV)
“Go and sin no more” gives us the grace we need and lets us off the hook. Jesus didn’t excuse her sin, nor did He shame her. He offered grace and truth in perfect balance. That’s how we love the unlovable: by seeing their worth through God’s eyes and leading them toward something better.
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector – Luke 19:1-10
Let’s face it: Some professions naturally make it hard for us to love the people who do them. Tax collectors were one of those professions in Bible times.
Zacchaeus was a notorious cheat and collaborator with the Roman government. People despised him, and not without reason. But when Jesus saw him in a tree, He didn’t call out his sins. He called out his name. “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
This act of love and acceptance changed Zacchaeus’s heart. He repented and vowed to make things right. Jesus didn’t shame him into change, He loved him into it. We can do the same with those around us. I’ve heard that “people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Show people you love and accept them, and let Jesus shine through you.
Tuesday Thoughts Summary
Jesus didn’t wait for people to get their act together before He loved them. He loved them in their mess. And that unmerited love changed lives and continues to change lives today.
Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Let’s be honest, we’ve all been hard to love at some point. But God loved us anyway. So today, let’s ask Him to help us extend that same grace to someone else. Maybe they’re rough around the edges. Maybe they don’t seem to deserve it. But they’re the ones who need it most.
Prayer for Today’s Tuesday Thoughts Devotion
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me even when I didn’t deserve it. Help me to see others through your eyes. Give me the grace to love the difficult people in my life, not just with words, but with patience and compassion. Let your love flow through me to those who need it most. Amen.
