22/02: Love Assumes the Best
Category: General
Posted by: Pastor German
I once heard Joyce Meyers use this phrase in one of her message, “Always think the best, until the worst proves itself.” I thought about that and have since adopted that as my philosophy of living. This philosophy helps me to be able to forge through the agony and pain of losing time thinking the wrong thing about what someone may say to me or even do to me because of my perception of an action by another person. I ask myself, “would this person intentionally want to hurt me or say all manner of evil against me?” In other words, I consider the source. If I know that the person is a brother or sister in the church then I can quickly say “No, they would not intentionally want to hurt me.” But if it is a sinner, one not redeemed by the blood of the lamb, then I can say, “Oh, they are just being who they are, a sinner – so it does not matter what they say!” So now, I am free to go on and enjoy the rest of my day!
Always think the best, until the worst proves itself! We the people of God can benefit greatly by living with this philosophy! So much misunderstanding, people taking offense, people leaving the church, etc., could have been avoided only if this philosophy was applied. Just think back over your life and the time wasted because you were upset over what someone may have said and later you found out that it really was not the case of what you assumed. You could have enjoyed those days had you put into action “Always think the best, until the worst proves itself!”
I recently came across a devotion that indeed shares this philosophy. It is taken from one of my favorite devotional book, “EXPERIENCING GOD DAY-BY-DAY” by Henry and Richard Blackaby. Enjoy:
Love Assumes the Best
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7)
Love has no limits. Love never says, “You’ve gone too far. I can’t love you now.” “All things” means everything is included. Christlike love leaves no doubt in the mind of another that you will continue to love steadfastly. Do those close to you know that they can fail and do foolish things, yet you will not falter in your love for them? Are others assured that, even when they hurt you, you still love them, holding nothing against them?
Love assumes the best about others. If someone inadvertently offends you, you choose to believe the offense was unintentional. If someone seeks to harm you, you “bear all things,” forgiving unconditionally. If a positive light can be shed on a difficult encounter, you grasp it. If someone continually provokes you, you “endure all things.” You never lose hope in the ones you love. You practice the same unconditional love toward others that Christ gives to you.
Paul said that he was nothing if he had the faith to move mountains, the tongue of an angel, and the gift of prophecy to understand all mysteries, yet did not have God’s love. It is unacceptable to say, “Well, I just can’t love people that way!” When God loves people through you, this is the only kind of love He has! Read 1 Corinthians 13 with gratitude that God has already expressed this complete and selfless love to you. Pray and ask Him to express it through you now, to others.
Always think the best, until the worst proves itself! We the people of God can benefit greatly by living with this philosophy! So much misunderstanding, people taking offense, people leaving the church, etc., could have been avoided only if this philosophy was applied. Just think back over your life and the time wasted because you were upset over what someone may have said and later you found out that it really was not the case of what you assumed. You could have enjoyed those days had you put into action “Always think the best, until the worst proves itself!”
I recently came across a devotion that indeed shares this philosophy. It is taken from one of my favorite devotional book, “EXPERIENCING GOD DAY-BY-DAY” by Henry and Richard Blackaby. Enjoy:
Love Assumes the Best
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7)
Love has no limits. Love never says, “You’ve gone too far. I can’t love you now.” “All things” means everything is included. Christlike love leaves no doubt in the mind of another that you will continue to love steadfastly. Do those close to you know that they can fail and do foolish things, yet you will not falter in your love for them? Are others assured that, even when they hurt you, you still love them, holding nothing against them?
Love assumes the best about others. If someone inadvertently offends you, you choose to believe the offense was unintentional. If someone seeks to harm you, you “bear all things,” forgiving unconditionally. If a positive light can be shed on a difficult encounter, you grasp it. If someone continually provokes you, you “endure all things.” You never lose hope in the ones you love. You practice the same unconditional love toward others that Christ gives to you.
Paul said that he was nothing if he had the faith to move mountains, the tongue of an angel, and the gift of prophecy to understand all mysteries, yet did not have God’s love. It is unacceptable to say, “Well, I just can’t love people that way!” When God loves people through you, this is the only kind of love He has! Read 1 Corinthians 13 with gratitude that God has already expressed this complete and selfless love to you. Pray and ask Him to express it through you now, to others.
