Will You Follow God's Example, friend?
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV)
Which do you, friend, find easier? Believing, hoping or loving?
I still find believing the easiest. And because I believe, it helps me to hope as well. But to love, that is really the most difficult. But to love everyone, even when I've been hurt and disappointed, that costs me more.
No wonder it is in this order in the verse: Faith, hope, and then love. But then it says right after that: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.." (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV)
God knows that it is impossible for us, humanly speaking, to love others as we should. That's why I want to remind you of 1 John 4:16: "...God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." (1 John 4:16 NIV)
You don't have to love out of your own strength, friend. You may accept the undeserved love that God has for you, and love out of that divine love. While we repeat often these days, "I wish for peace on earth," God expects us to take the first possible step…that we first love those who are in our path and who, in our opinion, may not deserve love:
"Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs." (Proverbs 10:12 NIV)
Love looks past faults. So God looks past faults—even yours—when you ask for His forgiveness. You, friend, may draw on God's love to love others who you may think don't deserve it.
While you take this first step—which is possible for you—you may trust that God will help you take the next step, which is not possible for you.
If you do what is possible for you, God will do the impossible! He also desires peace, in your heart and on earth!
Thank you for taking the possible step today, friend!
You are a miracle!