"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Sometimes we underestimate the strength in love, we find it something weak or vulnerable, that's why we tend to rate those who truly love as stupid.
In fact, love is much more powerful than it appears. God himself is love, if God who is God is love, how powerful is this attitude? I say attitude because it is a matter of choice.
"As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me great."
Psalms 18:30-35
God is totally perfect, he has no flaws, much less weaknesses. The essence of the Almighty is love, so loving is by no means a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it is a sign of strength, love is greater than all evil, fear, problems, everything. Because love is the source of all that is good.
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:21
We were taught wrong, we learned that for there to be love there needs to be some feeling involved. When love is a choice, not a feeling. To love is to do good.
For example, you are in a restaurant and a hungry homeless man comes in asking for food and he is being ignored by everyone. Just feeling sorry for him and continuing to eat your food isn't going to change that man's situation. Now, buy him something, it sure will. Loving is an action.
"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:17-18
You don't have to feel like doing good, simply do it. This doesn't always require or involve money, many people are sad, lonely, in need of a compliment, encouragement, or even a hug.
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1 John 4:8
Best of all, doing good for others and seeing the smiles on their faces brings us enormous satisfaction. We are human beings, we like to be useful. I have never met anyone who dreamed of being useless or who opened his mouth with pride to say that he is useless. We have this need, this longing to be able to help, to be good to others. Not only for those who are kind to us, but we also must love those who hate us.
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Romans 12:20
At first, we may have some difficulty extending that kindness to people who hurt us, but over time (not immediately ) we will see that this will make them feel ashamed and come to regret the evil they have done. As a result, their hearts will be reached by the love of God shown through you.
"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Matthew 5:43-45
God is good to us, regardless of whether we act well or badly. He loves us unconditionally, no matter what you do, He will still love you! Here comes the question, why will I obey God if He loves me anyway?
We obey to love Him back, not to earn His love. It's not an exchange, it's to show that the feeling is mutual. He loves us so we love Him.
"If you love me, keep my commands."
John 14:15
When someone says they love you, you expect a demonstration to make sure it's not lip service, a proof of love. Our proof of love for God is to obey his commandments!
"Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22 37:40
All commandments are fulfilled in just two, for me that's a relief, I couldn't remember each of the commandments!
To obey the commandments, it is enough: first, to love God above everything and everyone else, second, to love other people.
Simple as that, just love. Remember to always put God first because He is the love of your life, the only one you can't live without.
Unfortunately, many people give the place that belongs to God to things or a person and claim that they would not be able to live if they lost them.
They do this because they don't know who God really is, they only know what they heard about Him and therefore they think there is nothing wrong. The problem is that those things or people who have taken a place of honor that they are not worthy of, sooner or later they will fall apart. Nothing in this world can replace the Presence of God.
We must not judge these people, we must pray for them to get to know the truth and be freed. We have to be a good testimony to them by living according to the Word day by day.
"You yourselves are the letter we have, written on our hearts for everyone to know and read.
It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us.
It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts."
2 Corinthians 3 2:3
We are living letters! Instead of lecturing these people, show Jesus without preaching. How? Walk as He walked, forgiving, helping and loving people. We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, we are here to make a difference, for the light of the gospel to shine in us.
People will notice that glow and ask what's so special about you, why you are so different. Then you will tell them, I have Jesus!
To put what you've learned into practice, don't forget something crucial: It doesn't work without God! Say that you want to be not just a listener, but a doer.
"Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain."
Psalms 127:1
If God is not involved, there is no point in trying to change, only Him can change you! Be humble, admit it and ask that your attitudes and actions may be in accordance with His good, pleasing and perfect Will.
"Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect."
Romans 12:2
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