Anger and conflicts are impossible to avoid in relationships simply because differences of opinions are present in so many areas of life. However, where love exists for one another, there will be a commitment and incentive to be forgiving so differences can be worked out and love can continue to dominate.
The apostle Paul reminds us we are indebted to love one another because God loves us with all our flaws and failures. Therefore we’re obligated to love others who are equally flawed or even more so. The greatest rewards come from reaching beyond what is easy and comfortable to showing compassion to those who might be undeserving or even unappreciative.
When Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, Peter’s answer was, yes. Jesus responded by instructing him to take care of his sheep, meaning fellow believers. Jesus loved us so much he died on the cross for us. Loving infers action and often demands sacrifice, so "Beloved, let us love one another."
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Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that he died
for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for
everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for
themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for
them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one
time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we
know him now!
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