It Starts Small

We are working through the four statements of love that Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 13:7. We covered Love Bears all things and today we dig deeper into what Paul is saying when he says, love believes all things.

When we see belief, we usually associate it with faith. The Greek word used here is pisteuō and is used in an ethical sense, of confidence in the goodness of men. This is constant, continuous entrusting of one’s faith in something or someone – involving the “never give up” kind of belief that someone or something will turn out the very best. Translated into our modern English, it could state: love believes the best in every situation.

Love is not stupid or blind. It sees everything – the good, bad, and ugly. God’s love within us is filled with faith and pushes the disconcerting, disturbing, and negative realities out of the way. It does not ignore problems or challenges. It makes the choice to see beyond problems and conflicts, to strain forward to see the highest potential that resides in every person.

Let us apply this to a relationship with another. Perhaps someone you love is having problems and they have done some things in the past they should not have done. But there is still hope! Today is a new day and love does not simply give up believing they will turn around. Although the past may have been filled with troubled times, choices and actions, the future is bright for those who believe in God. Love continually presses ahead full of faith. Love reaches forward by faith to see the other person whole, sound, healed, saved, redeemed, and right in the middle of God’s will for his or her life.

God’s love within us does not know how to quit. It hangs on when the going gets tough. It keeps believing the very best, no matter what.

Ponder: Do I operate at this level of love for all around me? Do I strain forward to believe the best, or do you pick people apart and point out their flaws and weaknesses? Do you see their potential through eyes of love, or do you look at them through eyes of condemnation and criticism?

…Love strains forward with all its might to believe the very best in every situation.…

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