Love Serves

8-2-2012 by Boyd Bailey “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs” (Proverbs 10:12). True love forgives, regardless of the infraction, because it transcends mistreatment. So, what is your process for forgiveness? Is it conditional, based on the way you are treated, or is it unconditional? Hatred has no hope but to stir up dissension and rally a defense. However, love looks at being wronged as an opportunity to replace insult with encouragement. Love seeks to lead all parties into a better place of health and happiness. Indeed, hatred is not at home in a heart of love. It sows discord, while love plants peace. It embraces enmity, while love cuddles compassion. Hate stirs up, but love calms down. How do you handle those who are hard to be around? Perhaps out of love you serve them. Seek to serve, rather than be served. “Through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13 NASB). Furthermore, love forgives because you have been forgiven by the matchless love of God. It is the Lord’s love toward you that empowers you to lovingly forgive another. Human love alone is unable to love without boundaries. Left to our own limited love, we only love those who love us. Jesus said, “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much” (Matthew 5:46 NLT). Therefore, look at love as an opportunity to give others what they don’t deserve. Lean on the Lord as your source of unconditional love. Christ’s love is all-inclusive and all-forgiving. In the same way, actively and appropriately love those in your life; with a kind word, a nice note of appreciation, a thoughtful gift, or a listening ear. How do you harness love into a habit of forgiveness? “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8 NLT). Prayer: Whom do I need to love, forgive, and serve in honor of God’s great love? Related Readings: Leviticus 19:17; Proverbs 17:9; Philippians 1:9; 1 John 4:20–21