Love is a funny concept. In our culture, we say we love everything, from sports and food to our spouses and kids.

I was browsing through a student’s Instagram page and noticed something strange in their bio. Under their profile picture, they had four emojis listed in this order: a heart, a cross, a taco, and a girl who was identified by his girlfriend’s name in parentheses. Honestly, I did not know what to think about this. On one hand, I thought, “He’s a winner! He prioritized loving tacos over loving his girlfriend.” But on the other hand, I thought, “How sad that he would actually admit it.”

We could easily sit back and poke fun at a high school student’s misplaced priority, but if we were to turn the mirror in on ourselves, I bet we would see that we have a twisted view of love, too. Generally speaking, we think we are loving people. But what if I were to ask you this question: Do you love your enemies? Do you love the people who have hurt you or even betrayed you? How would you answer this question?

The Bible teaches an important truth: we are designed to love. 1 John 4:11 says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” The word ought means something deeper than mere moral obligation. It is a word of design. We were created to love. Much like a fish was created for water and ought to swim, and birds were created for the air and ought to fly, we were created to love.

Since we were created to love, the real question is, what should our love look like? Remember what John said: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” John connects the way we ought to love with the way God loves us. God calls us to emulate His love.

Loving people who love you back is easy. It is difficult to love people who do not deserve it.

The most amazing thing about the cross is that Jesus was not only dying for His friends who admired Him but also His enemies who despised Him. Through his death, he offered forgiveness to friend and enemy alike. If we are honest, we do not love the way Jesus loved because we are not willing to forgive the way Jesus forgives.

Unforgiveness will corrupt every relationship we have. In fact, it is impossible to love others and simultaneously hold a grudge. If we want to love like Christ, we must be willing to forgive.

This kind of love drives us to the cross. The grace of the cross is not just for our forgiveness—it is for our power! The cross does not only remove our guilt and shame, it also comforts us to know that the God who is love now lives in us and by His love empowers us to love others in the same way He has loved us. Through Christ, you can love the unlovable. It’s how you’re designed.

Who do you need to love?

By: Trea Brinson