Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12
And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 2 John 1:5
I haven’t yet found a clause in Scripture giving church leaders a bye on loving another believer, even if that believer is a co-worker or is regarded as an employee.
Senior Pastor…We have no choice but to love the staff we lead. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I do realize that there will be times when down deep you don’t like someone you work with. You’ll be disappointed in them or angry with them. This is a natural reaction, an intuitive internal response to an external situation.
While pastoring, on two occasions, I was forced to let a staff member go. I still love them both. I was a reference for one of those staff members a few years ago. The other might not even call me friend. But…I loved them then, treated them with love and respect then, and love them still today. Their performance, even their attitude, didn’t determine my love for them.
Let’s face it…Loving those we are at odds with is an internal accomplishment through the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work in us. Love is not dependent on our ability to love; it is accomplished through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. I pray that, if you have a staff member that you don’t love at present, you will allow the Holy Spirit to bring love alive in you.
