Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-5 NLT
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.  If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.


I'm sure most people have heard this passage before, or at least part of it. I'm sure most have also heard: Love thy neighbor. Love your enemies. Do unto others as you would have them do to you. Etc.
I know that in this world it is really tough to love everyone. And it is really tough sometimes to do nice things for others, knowing it may not be reciprocated or receiving thankfulness in return. 
Think about the people you know, that you might not like too much. Maybe they get on your nerves, make you angry, rude to you, something they did to you in the past, maybe you hold a grudge against them.
Now think about the last interaction you had with that person(s). Were you nice? Were you thinking nice things? When is the last time you made a positive or nice gesture toward them? I bet you didn't think or say that you love them. Maybe I'm going a little elementary here, but I think it's important to view problems at their most basic level of understanding and at the root of the problem. 
What if you forgave that person(s) for any direct or indirect "mean" thing they ever did to you? What about you, have you ever done anything "mean" back at them (direct or indirect)? That includes talking negatively about them behind their back. Although I highly support the action of venting to a good friend or parent, make sure you're not telling what happened in an exaggerated way, or for just the reason of gossiping. I totally understanding telling one person about something, perhaps in a rant form, that happened you today that was really bad or annoying, etc. to get it off your chest and mind and out of your system. But if you tell more than one (maybe two) people, it's more for the gossip reason (in my eyes). Anyways, think about the peace that would come from forgiving that person and showing them love. You don't have to tell them you love them in words, but there are tons of ways one can express love to another. I'm not talking about mushy gushy lovey dovey or anything, just the love of Christ. 
Now apply this to maybe a group of people, that you don't like, or associate with negative actions, feelings, etc. This could be a group of people you know that lives in your town, or it could be a foreign group or the government or whoever. 
I'm sure whatever group(s) you're thinking about have done some pretty terrible things, and we probably think we have every right to tell everyone about all the bad things they've done and our opinion on it, etc. But will that make the problem itself, and the root of the problem, any better? Sure if you're thinking advertisement, protests, etc. against it, but I'm talking about just talking "bad" or negatively about the group to your friends. What good is that doing? You're talking about negative things to others. What does talking about negative do? Negative grows negative. It may be planting a negative seed in their mind about this group, and then maybe that person begins thinking about it more than on a level that matters. 
I know it is extremely difficult to think positively about and show the love of Christ to a group of people that have done horrible things. But positive grows positive. Maybe you're stop talking about that group of people to others, and choose to talk about more positive things. Maybe you're talking to someone who is a part of that group, or knows someone in the group. Maybe if you said something positive it would plant a positive seed in their head that could grow when "watered" with more positive. 
I know I sort of "went off" there on what is "realistic" in this world, but it's something that is important to think about.
This example may be extreme, and I certainly do not want to offend anyone, but what if we (we being the American gov't, a group of people from your church, etc.) walked up to the group of "terrorists" who caused 9/11 and said "We forgive you, and we want to extend such and such gift as a token of God's love for you." "Everyone makes mistakes in their life, big and small, all sin is equal in the eyes of God, and He will forgive you if you ask Him to." 
Or something along those lines. What do you think that would do? 
Again, I know I may going a little overboard here, but what do you think that has the potential of doing? I'm not saying go up to them or whoever and throw holy water in their face and say if they do not believe in God and get saved that they will go to hell. That is never the appropriate way to "witness" to someone, I wouldn't even call it witnessing. 
It is about embracing people with love, the love of Christ.
Embrace your family with the love of Christ. Embrace your friends with the love of Christ, all of your friends, not just the ones that are Christians. Embrace your enemies with the love of Christ. Reunite with those you maybe left on the wrong foot with, by embracing them with the love of Christ.
Like I said a minute ago, that doesn't mean or require going up to them and immediately shouting about God, Jesus, and the Bible in their face. For those who aren't a Christian, that is a "turn off" for lack of better words. Just embrace them with a loving gesture, be nice, show Christ through your actions towards others.

And I leave you with this: 

The word love is in the Bible (NIV) 551 times. Love for every day and moment of your life. You are loved, always. God loves you. Embrace God's love for you, and share it with others. It is plentiful. Love grows love.