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One of the most practical ways is by showing love to all people. This is not meant to boast, but I try to be very aware of how I treat all people throughout the day. I may pray for the cashier as I wait in line, and if the person in front of me has been rude to her, I go out of my way to try to be cheerful and understanding of the difficulties of her job.

I try to be aware of the needs of other people, which could be due to circumstances such as illness, unemployment, rebellious children, marital problems, and disabilities.

I try to be humble (although this post may not sound that way! And respectful toward others' beliefs (Christianity). I know that I must love even my enemies, and my favorite Bible verse is Jesus' words  "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34 If Jesus could have that much love for his enemies, as He hung in pain on the cross, surely I can love and forgive people whose offenses toward me are immensely smaller than killing me.

Oh, I very much agree with you.

It took me a long time to come to the point where I can be kind and loving towards the people who I find tremendously annoying....

I find it a lot easier to offer that "grace and mercy" when I remember that He loved me first, in all my sin, and in spite of my sin, and that daily he forgives me for whatever offences I have made against him....."His mercy is new every morning" (praise God for THAT!).

Sometimes, strangers need only a smile from someone they don't know, or a hug, sometimes they just want to know someone out there sees them...that they aren't just that invisible teenager, senior, single mom, etc.

It helps to remember He sees me, all the time, every day, every minute....He knows what I'm doing even if no one else does so I try to live my life like that. He walks beside me every day and what I want Him to see, is me living for Him, putting into practice what He's taught me...I try to be a doer of the word instead of just a hearer.

Have to admit, though, it's not always easy. But what He did was harder than anything I have been required to do. It's only by His strength and love that I can do anything.

Gracey

John 15:13

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
KJV

amen amen amen
I'm still working on that greatest commandment: love your neighbor. Jesus suffered a lot from his oppressors. Humiliated and physically brutalized by mockers, Jesus had all the power he needed to stop them and bring them to justice right there, But he didnt. Instead he choose to die for them. Very seldom would anyone one of us die for someone we really loved, how much greater love did Jesus have for us that while we were his enemies, he still died for us.

It is so hard for me to do any good to a person that's mean and oppressive to me much less die for them. Even while under the whole time I have the power invested in me to punish that person for his crimes I still do not seek justice for myself. The only reason and way you could do that is if you truly loved them. Love is the easiest thing to learn, but the hardest thing to do!

Though Brother Love is gone, it's my hopes and prayers. He will see what he has done and comes back to us, a new man. Brother Love, if you are reading this, my prayers are going out to you, Brother.

Resting in the Lord's arms.
Bob

John 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.


I find the single factor that has been most helpful to me in forgiving and loving others ( apart from the power of the Spirit!) is realising that all people are sinful. We should expect people to hurt us and sin against us and God. That is human nature. When you realise all people are essentially the same, and wicked at heart, the same as you are ( and me! ) it makes not judging and forgiving so much easier.

Yes, I think Bern's reference there says it, John 15:10.


I was thinking of I John.  I think that whole epistle - five chapters? - is about how we show our love for Christ, or God, by our obedience to Him...

Boy do I feel rebuked.  I need to do alot more of this than I do.  Thanks for sharing DW.   :)

How do I show my love for Christ?

I try to be obedient to God's law trying to remember His great mercy and grace.  

For me, I first had to love God and then myself.  (because I used to hate myself)  Then I realized I had to love and forgive others if I loved God.  When I started trusting in the Lord for my life, I could help others more.  Then I started praying for God to give me people to help.  So now I try to think that whenever there is someone praying for God to help them, there is someone praying for God to give them someone to help.  Try it.

Your welcome Allinall. :)