Some of you may never like me. That’s a hard realization for the child inside who wanted to be friends with everyone. I may not like everyone of you. How does that feel? When we grow up and grow into our selves it’s doesn’t affect us as much.
There is going to come a time in your life when people aren’t going to like you. They will have their reasons, maybe something you said, maybe something you done, sometimes it’s something you didn’t do they wanted you to. No matter the reason and on occasion lack thereof it makes no difference. You will not be liked by everyone. Jesus was put on this Earth to exhibit God’s love for us in flesh and he was hated and murdered by the ones he was here to save. So at least we are in good company.
One of the most important things to remember when you find yourself in a situation where you are not liked is that you are loved. We are called to love everyone, no matter race, religion, language, country of origin, job title, neighborhood affiliation or any of the ways we choose to classify people this day and age. We are taught to forgive because we are forgiven, and to help everyone “because what you do for the least of these, you do for me.” What I found when reading this is no where does it say you have to like them.
For followers of Jesus I have a question. When Jesus walked this Earth did he do all things in love? I would be comfortable saying yes. He showed love in all situations to all people. Now let me ask, do you think he liked all of those people? When he was flipping the tables in the temple, throwing out all of the money changers and the ones who sold doves, when he said “it is written that my house shall be called the house of prayer, yet you have made it a den of thieves” do you think he liked them? I would venture to say no but he still loved them. In that situation I bet they didn’t like him much either but it was ok.
We are all different, different backgrounds, different looks, different paths, to different futures. Some of us will be picked on. Some of us will be mocked. Some of us will be hated. Never let that change you. Never stop being the person you were created to be. Never stop living the life you were blessed with. Even when people don’t like you, and me. God loves us for exactly who we are.
Even when they don’t like you always be yourself, everyone else is taken. I love you.
bradglenn79 