Radical Love

by Ed Elliott

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7

The more I study the character of God and the life of Christ, the more I see a love that is nothing short of being totally 100% radical! Jesus taught, if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. Luke 6:32.

God loves those that don’t love Him — a concept that escapes many believers. When we claim to know God’s love, this should be natural for us. It is easy to love those who love you but is it just as easy to love those who hate you? I have always been fascinated by what Jesus taught in Luke 6:27–29, love your enemies, pray for those who use and abuse you, do good to those who hate you and turn the other cheek when smacked or punched. If you are like me, you think this chapter should be named “Mission Impossible” because in your own ability it is.

Yet, this is exactly how Jesus lived his life. Jairus was the leader of the synagogue of the people who were enemies to Jesus. A leader of those who lied and slandered Jesus’ character but Jesus dropped what He was doing to go and heal Jairus’ daughter. When they came to arrest Him in the garden, Jesus miraculously healed the ear of the guard that Peter cut…