Loving the Haters

I John 3:13-14
  "Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love out brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death."

  The more I read the Bible, the more I am struck by the fact that the world usually hates believers. Not dislike, not annoyed by, the world is going to hate those who are in Christ. The irony is that Christians are supposed to be known as people who love. We are not just commanded to love our friends, family and fellow believers. We are called to love outcasts, prisoners and the jerks we run into in traffic. We have to love people who are going to hate us.
  It is not humanly possible to love hateful people. When I am trying to love haters on my own, I am typically overwhelmed by the unchristian desire to high five them in the face. I do not have to depend on my broken human heart to love hateful people, though.
  My heart has been made new. Every crack and imperfection has been washed over. I am filled with infinite love for the unlovable. And why? Because I have been loved. Because even though I am wretched and unlovable myself, Christ has loved me. When I could not save myself from the death I deserved, Christ came and died in my place and then rose from the grave and left death conquered. If I, the unlovable wretch I am, have been loved like that, how can I not love others?
  So this world is going to hate those of us who are Christians, and we get to love them back.