While spending some time quickly browsing at the Portal, last week, I came across a statement that has been coming back to my mind over and over again for about a week. When something does that, I start paying attention.
Here it is...
"I will love God only as much as I love the person I dislike the most."~"Prayer: Conversing with God" by Rosalind Rinker
I read that quote and was reminded of the apostle John's words...
"We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."
How much more do I need to love the people around me? Especially those I've felt I've had a right to dislike for whatever justifiable reason in my own mind.
Posted by ed | TrackBackHere's a twist on your comment ... I love my brother. If he were in need of a transplant that I could provide, for example, I would be there. His actions continue to annoy me, so I do not like him. If he were not my brother would I still love him the same ... that I don't know.
Posted by: Ianlet me push back a little...is it his actions you don't like or is it him? Ie. if his actions were different do you think things would be different?
I think we have this "like" thing a little mixed up. I find it a paradox to say I love someone but I don't like them. (there's a follow up post coming that explains this better).
I think most of the time what we mean is that we don't like their actions...
having said that, I might be out to lunch - maybe the issue is different understandings of what the word "like" means...but for whatever it's worth.
to answer the question, it is his actions I don't like. if his actions were different, things would be different.
...I'll check out the follow-up post ...