Have you ever lost your temper, or jumped to a conclusion before? Yes, we all have! God calls us to listen thoughtfully, to be slow to speak, and to keep our tempers in check.
Often times we act entitled making statements like: “I accomplished X, Y, Z, so i deserve _______. It’s so easy to get caught up in feeling “holier-than-thou” friends and miss the bigger picture. God calls us to act justly and to love mercy. These qualities seem to oppose each other: Justice=equality and fair treatment, while mercy=forgiveness and compassion. At first glance, these seem to conflict, but they actually work great together, just as Christ models for us in scripture when he mercifully died on the cross for our sins. God is bigger than our egos and our self-righteousness. He desires our hearts to earnestly follow him and his will for our lives.
What love looks like:
Love considers others first
Love looks for the best in all things and people
Love shows respect
Love seeks unity
Love isn't selfish
Love offers the best
Love is a choice you have to make everyday
Love requires us to be patient with others and not to keep score by only loving people when they're easy to love or when they show you love in return.
Jesus gave us the best example of what real love looks like by giving up his life for me and you.
Loving others involves pain.
Love means putting your heart out for someone to potentially wound.
Love means selfless.
The bible says love covers a multitude of sins. Christ like live does not expose. It covers, uplifts and points toward Jesus Christ every single time.
Scripture Reference
The Greatest Commandment Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 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.”
John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 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.
Psalms 145:8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
1 John 3:16-18 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 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.
Romans 13:9-10 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. "Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
Matthew 5:43-48 “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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Prayer: Father, you could have chosen so many other ways to spread the good news of Jesus, and yet, you chose us. God, use me to further Your mission. I do not want to take lightly Your command to love others. I know that the love we have for one another proves to the world that we are Your disciples. Remind me that my love for others is not some superficial, fleeting feeling. God, my love for others is proof I belong to You. It’s proof that You are real. Our world is desperate for the hope I have in You, Lord. Let my love back up my confidence that You are what they need. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.