Proud souls are Satan’s apes, and none imitate
him to the life like these. And oh that they were
sensible of it, before it is too late, before the
door of darkness be shut upon them!

We ought to be wiser when we are old—than ever we have been in any former years. We ought to have learned by experience. We ought to be better in every way—with more of God’s peace in our hearts, with more gentleness and patience. We ought to have learned self-control, and to be better able to rule our own spirit. We ought to have more love, more joy, more thoughtfulness, to be more considerate, to have more humility.

Old age never should be the dregs of the years, the mere cinder of a burnt-out life. One may not have the vigor and strenuousness of the mid-years—but one should be every way truer, richer-hearted, holier. If the outward man has grown weaker and feebler—the inner man should have grown stronger and Christlier.”

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32

If it weren’t for love, most songwriters would be out of business. From “All I Need Is Love,” to “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” and “I Love You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” no topic has dominated the popular culture like love. But so far, no one has written a song entitled “Love Is a Commandment.”

We think of love as a mood, a feeling, a sentiment, an attitude, and a passion; and rightly so, for love may contain some or all of those emotions. But at its essence, love is the selfless commitment of putting the needs of others before one’s own wishes or welfare. It’s a choice we make and a command we obey. It’s the opposite of offended pride, bitterness, selfishness, rudeness, and egocentricity.

Perhaps the greatest barometer of love is kindness, so we should always be asking ourselves, “What have I done for someone else today?”

The Bible says, “Love . . . is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4), and spiritual maturity comes as we realize that love is a command that results in a never-ceasing stream of kindness toward others. As someone once said, “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

Love is the giving of oneself to another.
David Jeremiah

Many Christians live the Gospel as if it’s simply a fairy tale or cute story that’s been passed down through the ages. Yet if we truly believe that God’s Word is our final authority, we will live out every command-including God’s command in Luke 6. Believing the Bible is easy when people agree with you, but it becomes more difficult when critics question your faith.

Loving friends is easy. You agree with them on most things, enjoy the same hobbies, listen to each other’s problems, and help out when needed. But one of the toughest things to do is love those who hate you.

Human nature tells us to return hatred, to seek revenge, and to despise our enemies. Yet God calls for us to love our enemies: “Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”(Luke 6:27-28) God doesn’t call you to tolerate your enemies or even ignore them. He calls for you to love them.

Just as you love your friends who minister to you, love your enemies who tear you down. Do good to them. Provide for their needs. Pray for God’s blessings in their lives. Speak encouraging words to them. Treat them as kindly as you would your best friend.

How do you treat your enemies? Ignoring critics and enemies takes great strength. Yet God wants you to go beyond that and love them. Thank God for your enemies. Thank God for the ability to display His love and kindness to those who wish you harm.

Do you really believe God’s Word? Do you seek to obey God’s commands? God has commanded you to love others, even those who purposefully hurt you. Rather than seeking revenge or even ignoring those who hurt you, go out of your way to love them, showing Christ’s love through your response. (Dr. Paul Chappell)