We can make love a way of life at home. The two characteristics of love that I want to conclude this week with are courtesy and forgiveness. Let’s begin with courtesy. America rates high on the courtesy level, when looking throughout the world, In the south, you see courtesy one an even higher level than for the rest of the US. A southerner can ball you out, and sound courteous as can be! For most of us, I do believe we can do better about being courteous. Thank you and please are not outdated or obsolete words. Courtesy really should begin at home. Parents, it is up to us to demonstrate courtesy to our spouses, and on the phone, at the dinner table, really everywhere, because there are little eyes watching you. Kids don’t do what you tell them to do, they do what you do. They are in training, and they will more than likely turn out like you are. So be courteous to your wife, to the waiter at the restaurant, and with your words. Be complimentary, believe the best and look for ways to bring out the best in every situation. The other biggy is forgiveness. A great way for a child to learn how to forgive is to see mom and dad ask for forgiveness. We do mess up. We can act unbecomingly. Let’s be quick to forgive. Let’s let our heart be pure, and not harbor unforgiveness. When we have a home where children learn to forgive, and to ask for forgiveness, we will have a home that demonstrates love as a way of life. Too many families live hanging on to past hurts, and it causes damage that sometimes takes years to recover from. Let’s be authentic lovers. Let’s love like Jesus does. Let’s start at home and show love to our children, to our spouses, to those we work with. Surely others will know we are Christians by the authentic love with live out before them. II Cor 5:14-15 tells us that we look past the flesh, and see with the eye of the spirit. Living this way makes loving so much easier!
II Cor 5:14-16 says this:
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
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