As we continue our study on how to love people, which is learning how to treat people, I will close out this study on the last 4 things that love does.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
[4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
To the best of our ability, we decide in advance to "protect" people. Whatever situation arises, whatever that looks like for you in your capacity, in your life, protect all people.
The next 3 can be summed up in saying never give up on people. Expect the best from people. Look for the good in all people. Always trust in them, always have hope for them, and always persevere with them. God never gave up on us and is always faithful to us. So, we never give up on people either.
We never do anything that deters us from treating all people in the ways we have learned in this passage through this series.
This whole series can be simplified to a single verse in the Bible, which is one of my favorites:
Romans 13:10 NIV
[10] Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Love does no harm to anyone that crosses our path in life. Period. We never do harm to another person. When we never bring harm to people in actions or words or deeds, then we are loving them. That's the whole point of the Bible. Love God and love all people like Jesus told us to.
So, now, let's get out there and truly love people.
I love you dear readers,
Jeffrey Post
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