Loving People Isn't EasySample

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth

Love doesn’t feel secretly satisfied with anyone’s suffering, no matter how deserving it feels they are of it.
Love doesn’t think, “You got what was coming to you” when things go south for people who hurt them.

Love doesn’t celebrate sin.
It doesn’t enjoy anything evil.
It doesn’t get pleasure from the pain of others.
It doesn’t indulge in corruption and malpractices.
It is squeaky clean through and through.
It doesn’t grease the palms of the wicked or give bribes to get things done quicker.
It doesn’t indulge in idolatry.
It doesn’t stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

Instead, love delights in the Word of God and recognizes the Bible as the ultimate truth. Love celebrates this truth and isn’t ashamed of sharing it with others.

Love relishes it when justice prevails and is ecstatic when righteous men prosper.
It is a crusader for all things right and is willing to take a stand for its convictions.

Love has great clarity about what’s right and what’s wrong.
There’s no grey areas and ambiguity when it comes to sin.
Love isn’t afraid to do the right thing even when everyone around is comfortable choosing not to do it.

In a time when immorality is commemorated and sin is justified as lifestyle choices,
love joyfully chooses to disagree and boldly takes the unpopular side of things.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.

A few self-reflection questions:

1. Do you delight in the failure and downfall of people you dislike? Have you gloated when someone you aren't fond of is suffering?
2. Do you find yourself often in the company of people who tempt you to sin?
3. Do you actively choose truth and boldly take a stand on what's right - even when others aren't?

Journalling Prompt:

Get your journal out and write down the phrase “­­_______ does not delight in EVIL but rejoices in the TRUTH” (insert your name in the blank space). Now, use your creativity through words, art, painting, doodling, or whatever your creative expression is to bring this page alive intentionally – in a way that you’d remember to shun evil and boldly choose truth like 1 Cor 13 expects us to.