THE POWER OF RADICAL LOVE
Diana Ordonez
Today's Scripture: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35, ESV
Theme: Work on loving each other. It sounds easy, but it can be difficult!
A CALL TO LOVE BEYOND DIFFERENCES
Have you ever found yourself being critical or judgmental toward others, especially when they seem unkind or negative? I have, and over time I’ve come to realize that my anger, judgment, and criticism often stemmed from deep pain—whether self-judgment or unresolved wounds I carried. Sometimes, even when the hurt was caused by real actions in the present, I was reacting to unmet expectations and needs that someone was unable or unwilling to meet.
The truth is, we don’t see others as they are—we see them as we are. Without understanding my own pain, I blamed others for triggering it. My reaction was to judge, get angry, and try to control them. Many of the things I judged others for were the same things I harshly judged myself for. I was harsh with them because I hadn’t learned to extend grace to myself.
This realization that my anger and judgment were coping mechanisms allowed me to start showing myself grace. I was doing the best I could with the information I had. And if that was true for me, could it also be true for others?
As I opened my heart to this, I began to see that others, too, are often coping with their own unresolved wounds and self-criticism. When we extend God’s love to others—especially those who seem hardest to love—we offer them a glimpse of unconditional love they may have never experienced. Many have never experienced this love for themselves, so when they encounter it through us, we help them make room for the possibility for their hearts and minds to be open to receiving God's love.
This is the radical love of Christ—the same love He showed when He asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Even in His suffering, Jesus showed compassion, not condemnation.
God calls us to love others as we love ourselves. But what happens when we walk around judging ourselves harshly? How can we extend grace to others if we can’t extend it to ourselves? If we constantly critique ourselves, we limit our ability to show grace. God gives us grace freely, and He wants us to receive it and reflect it to the world.
Loving those who trigger our pain is not easy, but here’s the truth: we cannot change other people—we can only choose how we show up. As Christ’s followers, we’re called to see others through compassion, just as Jesus saw His persecutors. This doesn’t mean we ignore wrong behavior, but we are called to love and show grace despite it. Sometimes that means setting boundaries, but we can do so from a place of love rather than condemnation.
When I struggle to show grace, I pray. I ask God for the ability to forgive and for the compassion I need. I go to God, and then I release that person from my expectations, giving them grace for not being able to provide the healing I’m looking for themselves.
By extending this radical love, we allow others to encounter the grace of God. Perhaps, for the first time, they’ll be open to receiving the love they’ve been missing—even from themselves.
Make It Personal: Where have you found it difficult to love others? Is there someone whose actions trigger judgment or frustration? Reflect on your own pain—what sadness do their actions bring up? Have you judged yourself for similar mistakes? Are past wounds influencing how you respond to others now? Can you extend grace to yourself and, by doing so, extend it to others? As you allow God's love and grace to fill your heart, you’ll be able to reflect it to those who need it most also.
Pray: Dear Lord, help me to see others as You see them, with compassion instead of judgment. I know that sometimes my pain and hurt leads me to want to hold resentment and judgement, but I ask for Your grace to heal my heart and give me the strength to love others as You have loved me. Help me to remember that people are doing the best they can within the context of their experiences and guide me to more freely show them love and grace as You do. Thank You for the example of Jesus, who showed us how to love even when it’s hard. Help me to be a reflection of that love. Amen.
Read: Luke 6:27, Luke 23:34, Romans 12:20, Matthew 7:1-2
Weekly Memory Verse: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35, ESV