Faith, Hope, Love, These Three, but the Greatest of These is Love.

At the risk of stating the obvious, it’s easy to love people you like.  It’s easy to love people who like you back. But, it’s not so easy to love those who treat you with contempt.

Love… “is not rude, 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”.  (NIV) I Corinthians 13:5-6

Several years ago, I was talking with my mom.  She was ironing as we talked about some problems I was having with a few people in my little corner of the world.  I was angry, unforgiving, and bitterness was creeping in.  I was not loving them as God calls us to love others.

Our relationships with others are very important to God.  Important enough that God focuses on those in the Ten Commandments.  Exodus 20:12-17

  • “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
  • “You shall not murder.
  • “You shall not commit adultery.
  • “You shall not steal.
  • “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
  • “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

 

Then, Jesus clearly states that loving others is one of the two greatest commandments.  “He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  (NIV) Luke 10:27

Lesson taught by my mom at the ironing board:  Pray for those who persecute you.  Pray for those who hurt you.  Pray for those you are angry with for any reason.

Lesson learned from my mom:  When we pray for those people who hurt us or make us angry, our attitude about them changes.  We begin to see them from the lens of God’s love for them.  Forgiveness comes when we pray for them.  They need Jesus too.

~ Take it to heart ~

An encouraging word for you today from I Corinthians 13:4…
“Love never fails.
Love is patient, love is kind.”
Show love to everyone…even when it isn’t easy.