Loving People Who Are Hard to Love Study Guide

A Note from Joyce

What does it mean to “put on” love? It means to love on purpose. This sounds so simple if we would just do it—love people, live in peace, and be thankful. But we run into the problem that some people are hard to love, and too often we don’t want to do what is hard, so we follow our emotions (feelings) and let the devil have his way. Then we complain about the conditions in the world and think someone should do something. But we rarely think we should be that someone.

If you are looking for an easy way to love people who are hard to love, I must tell you from the beginning that I don’t know of one. But I can tell you that when we do something difficult because we love Jesus and want to obey Him, we not only please God but we grow spiritually, becoming more and more like Jesus.

I do believe the world’s problems can be solved, but it will require each of us doing our part. It will necessitate our becoming peacemakers and being willing to make loving others a priority in our lives. This begins at home and spreads from there. I ask you here, in the introduction to this book, to apply its message to yourself, not merely to others. Be willing to see your own faults, not simply those of other people.