We aren’t called to be best friends with everyone, but we are called to love them all.
“There is never a reason, no matter how triggered you are, to treat someone badly.” - Pastor Bil Cornelius
Dear Jesus, thank you for leading us. No matter what came your way, you handled it through the lens of love. Help us to do the same. In your name we pray, Amen.
Scriptures
...husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel… 1 Peter 3:7a ESV
...live considerately with your wives…honoring the woman as physically the weaker, but realizing that you are joint heirs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered and cut off. 1 Peter 3:7 AMP
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23 NLT
Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. Proverbs 20:3 NLT
[Moses] saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews…Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. The next day…he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” ...The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” ...Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. Exodus 2:11-15 NLT
Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians… Exodus 3:7-8 NLT
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 NLT
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again…If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17 NLT
...love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. ...Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Luke 6:27,31 NLT
This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. John 8:6 ESV
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Proverbs 12:16 ESV
Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” John 8:47 NLT
Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?” “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!” Mark 11:27-30 NLT
Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious—don’t get infected. Proverbs 22:24-25 MSG