How to live in harmony when we feel we are failing so badly? After all, we are sinners struggling against our own flesh and against the evil that is in this world. But there is a way to live in harmony and it involves three blessed words, the first is love, the second is forgiveness, and the third is patience.
The Bible teaches us to live in harmony by putting on these three acts, the first of which is the most important and determines the fulfillment of the other two, for as it is written in Colossians 3:14, love is the perfect bond. And in the next few days we will delve a little deeper into each of these acts, starting today with LOVE.
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love
This is one of the best known passages in the Bible, 1 John 4:8, but if only it were the most understood, it perfectly sums up the nature of our creator, that He is love, and what does that mean? Well, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 we find the definition of love: love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not mistreat, it does not seek its own interests, it is not easily angered, it does not hold grudges. Love does not rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Perfect love drives out all division, for where there is love, there is harmony. Think of someone you admire greatly and see as an example of conduct, you probably consider this person full of love for others. Our greatest example, Jesus, reflected love in his life, for he is love. He came to earth as the perfect link between us and God.
I would like to bring an extra focus here on the difference between serving and flattering. I believe that many believe that to live in harmony or to show love is to flatter everyone, and this creates enormous fatigue and leads nowhere. In Proverbs 29:5 we read that the man who flatters his neighbor is only building a trap for himself. Flattery is by talking a lot, service is by doing.
People have different love languages such as words of affirmation, quality time, giving, gestures of service, and physical touch. I believe that each one of us has a little of each of the 5 languages, but maybe someone who is reading this text and identifies more with words of affirmation is thinking that there is something wrong with this and there is not, as long as the compliment is sincere and not looking for his or her own interests.
So, to close the topic of love, I want you to think for a moment if you are a flatterer or if you have truly served people with a sincere love, just like our master Jesus. From now on choose to love honestly and truthfully because love transforms any environment and relationship, being the perfect bond!
God bless you!
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