1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is kind!

Proverbs 10:12 

Hatred stirs up strife,

But love covers all sins.

God’s agape love for the world covered a multitude of our sin in the sacrifice of Jesus.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Through the sacrifice of Jesus  the world could be saved. Whoever believes in Him will not perish but will live eternally with Him. No greater gift exists. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.

Father help us to have a soft heart of compassion like Yours. Holy Spirit guard our hearts that we do not let the cruelty of others harden it. If God so loved the world that He created shouldn’t we? Carla

Love is the true sign of someone who follows Christ (John 13:35). Faithlife Study Bible

The Greek word used here for truth, alētheia, refers to the gospel message and stands in contrast to “unrighteousness.” Love rejoices in this truth because the gospel demonstrates God’s love (Romans 5:8). Truth Involves enduring difficulties, and even taking on (spiritually) the difficulty of others (being compassionate; 1 Corinthians 9:12). Exhibiting confidence in God and His promises. Hopes all things Includes hardships and persecution (2 Corinthians 11:23–28). 

Love never fails. The NKJV Study Bible

1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 

2 John 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father. 

1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

2 Thessalonians 2:12 |that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness

Did you see the movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”?

The movie stars Tom Hanks, and is based on the relationship between Fred Rogers and Tom Junod which began in 1998 when Junod wrote an article for Esquire, “Can you say, Hero?”

Wondering how Fred was genuinely available and present to the people around him, Jundo recounts calling Fred to tell him the story about five people stopping their cars to help an ancient and enormous snapping turtle across a highway exit ramp near Atlanta. Mr. Rogers said that would make a good story. Tom asked him why. Fred Rogers responds, “Because whenever people come together to help either another person or another creature, something has happened, and everyone wants to know about it—because we all want to know that there’s a graciousness at the heart of creation.”

I love that phrase—graciousness at the heart of creation.

I know what he means. The beauty of humanity, of doing good when we can, of loving our neighbors, of treating one another openhearted, with dignity and respect, welcoming and reconciling.

But here’s the deal: In the world we live in, we too easily forget that this graciousness is alive and well in each one of us.

I wonder, why do we forget?

Why we give way to our lesser selves, to small-mindedness and intolerance?

I do know this: whenever our words demean, humiliate or shame, we cut off the oxygen of hope.

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” (Thank you Kurt Vonnegut) “SabbathMoments”