Are you feeling a bit beaten down, dear Christians? I sometimes feel that way when culture and unbelieving friends and family pound me with the world's definition of love: “If you approve of my values, you're loving. Otherwise, you're hateful.”
When I look back on my family heritage, I see that the kindest, fairest, and most sacrificial men and women were those who loved Jesus and refused to approve of sin. They weren't perfect, but they were loving.
The same is true when I look at my present friends, family, and acquaintances.
I still love the people in my life who have bought into worldly values, but their lives would not be defined as loving or sacrificial.
Whenever we feel beat up by our culture or by our worldly friends and family, let's remind ourselves of God's definition of love:
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:3-6
When we love Jesus, we never approve of sin. We love people enough to warn them (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
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For more on this subject see these one-minute devotions:
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