1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and
every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that does not love does
not know God; for God is love.
I stand before you today with a message of love, a testament
of our humanity and our shared purpose in this journey we call life. Often, we
encounter in our path those who do not know love. They are the embodiment of
indifference, seem marred by apathy and, in the worst cases, bestow upon others
the affliction of hatred. So how do we deal with people who do
not know love?
Our Saviour teaches us that love is the greatest
commandment. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40) This, dear
friends, is the crux of our faith, the core of our belief.
So, dealing with those who do not know love can indeed be
challenging. It is hard to show love when we ourselves receive none in return,
isn't it? But remember, the love we hold is not only for the lovable but for
the unlovable too. As children of God, we are called upon to emit rays of love
in the heart of darkness, to be the beacon in the storm, to give without
expecting in return.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, advises us:
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans
12:21). When met with resistance, when faced with a clear absence of love, we
should not recoil, nor should we mirror the same. Instead, we strive to
overcome that void with the immense power of love, the very essence of our God.
So how do we do this practically? We begin by understanding
that every person is a creation of God, a masterpiece intricately designed by
the Master's hands. Everyone is fighting unseen battles, wrestling with their
private demons. The absence of love may be a cry for help cloaked in the garb
of hostility. Understand their perspective, show empathy, extend your hand in
friendship even when it is met with a clenched fist.
In our daily interactions, let us strive to act out of love,
to speak words of kindness, to perform acts of compassion. Make it your mission
to show them the love they have never known before. They may resist it
initially, but eventually, the light pierces the darkness, and love conquers
all.
The world can seem less loving and it is during these times,
we must stand tall with our resolve to love unconditionally, just as Christ
loved us. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is
not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-5).
Dealing with people who do not know love is not only about
showing them what love is but also a journey of self-discovery. It enables us
to truly grasp the depth of Jesus' love for us. It is a reminder
that our journey is less about changing others and more about allowing God to
transform us.