Love in Action

Scripture has a lot to say about the way we treat people. If we have been saved by God, and have been shown the mercy and goodness of God, then we ought to show mercy and goodness to other people. Essentially…

…what we believe should determine how we act.

All of us who have received grace freely from God ought to also give grace freely to others. In Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, he encourages them to be kind and compassionate to others. This idea is spread across all of God’s Word…

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
1 John 4:11 NIV

“…All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
1 Peter 3:8 NIV.

“You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”
Luke 6:36 NLT

Showing other people compassion is one of the primary ways that we can communicate God’s love to other people. If we fail to love other people, we also fail to show them God’s love.

Paul also says we should forgive other people in our life, just as we have already been forgiven by Jesus. Forgiveness and compassion go together. When we do not forgive others, we fail to show them the same compassionate love that Jesus has shown us. A love that, as it suffered for us and because of us, still allowed Jesus to say, “Father forgive them—because they don’t know what they’re doing.” We ought to be careful that we do not deny others the same love we’ve been freely given.

If you want to learn more about how to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving toward others, you can read through the stories of Jesus’ life and ministry found in the books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

But right now, take some time to think about the people in your own life who you may have the opportunity to show compassion to. Is there someone in need who you can help? Is there a person you can forgive? Is there someone who you can encourage?

Today is a great day to show people the same love, compassion, and forgiveness that you have received.

www.bible.com/en/videos/41397

Click on the link above to watch the verse of the day story. God bless.

Affliction Diminishes or Enlarges You 
When a child learns to walk, he or she falls several times but gets up again until he or she succeeds. The child does not have a false identity. In contrast, when we grow up and fall, we usually stay on the floor. 

The apostle Paul showed a good attitude in the face of adversity. He was in prison, not for committing a crime, but for obeying his divine calling. He wrote a letter to the Philippians where he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!” In the midst of whatever situation you are going through, you can understand that we do not depend on circumstances but on a Spirit that has been given to us. We should be able to say, “In the midst of my condition, I rejoice in the Lord.” 

Paul was talking about his experiences in life. His secret is in Philippians 4:11–13. He says that he may be going through a difficult situation or be in abundance, but he remains the same. People often change through the extremes they live in. One extreme is positive, which is living in abundance. The other extreme is when we lack or are in need. However, both extremes reveal who we are through our reactions. Paul says, “In Christ, I remain the same.” Nothing changes us, because we can do everything in Christ who is the reason of our strength. 

Paul proves to be a true apostle by demonstrating his resilience through his letters. He never presented his accomplishments, instead presented the facts. Through every hardship he experienced, he remained true to his calling. This is the greatest evidence of someone who possesses the life of the true God: that regardless of adversity, he or she continues to serve Him. Actions speak louder than words. 

Paul said that he cared for and burdened for the church. It was the suffering of others that weighed him down, not his own condition. This process in his life not only produced in him knowledge of the God of all comfort but transformed him into an instrument of consolation for others. What he suffered made sense, because now he understood that his suffering and what had happened in his life was God’s preparation to enable him to comfort others