As I read that description, I do not feel the freedom to say that I can not like someone and love them at the same time. I’ve come to realize that liking someone is all about me. I like certain colors, music, movies and such. I like something when it brings me enjoyment. Liking is a very self-driven concept. It is a concept that drives me to avoid things that make me uncomfortable and ideas with which I don’t agree. Not liking something, an object, idea or place, is completely understandable and is encouraged when seeking to live a life that follows after the way of Jesus. Not liking certain actions or behaviors is understandable, as there are behaviors and actions that are contrary to what is good and right and perfect. But people are a whole different story.
People are the only thing in all of creation made in the image of God. Each person was created with intention and purpose. Each person has a heart, mind, personality and way that was made with incredible intentionality. Psalm 139:13-17 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast the sum of them!”
Wow! Every single person was made by Creator God. Even those that drive me crazy. Even those who think and live differently. Even those who believe differently. Every single person bears the image of the Creator.
I struggle loving all people. There are some that think so differently than me that I often jump to judgement, and then I easily discount them by saying, “I don’t have to like you, but I love you.”
True love actually enables our ability to like. I have a friend who modeled this to me. She would have a colleague who would drive her crazy, and instead of talking about how much that person irritated her, she would pray that God would give them one connection point. Without fail, God answered her prayer, and these once annoying and irritating people became friends. She laid herself down and sought to see the image of God in those around her. Every time, God revealed his image. And, when we see the image of God, it makes it pretty impossible to not like someone.
Yes, there are people who think differently. There are people who will drive you crazy. There are those who are so different that connection or enjoyment seems impossible. But, love is patient and kind and it’s not self-seeking. This kind of love drives us to pursue connection and enjoyment of those around us who are also image bearers.
So next time your path crosses with someone who just gets under your skin, instead of writing them off and justifying it in some way, pray that you will see the image of God in him or her and love with action!
