Day 20: Believing the Best
“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].” 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMPC)
I love the way the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition puts this whole verse, but I want to focus in on “Love…is ever ready to believe the best of every person.” How many times have we approached a particular someone in our lives with a negative mindset, automatically assuming that they’re going to be grumpy, lie to us, or say something rude? It’s easy enough to prepare for the worst when those people usually act a certain way, but God’s love calls us to a higher way of living.
Instead of assuming the worst in people, we need to be a beacon of hope. Everyone needs someone to believe in them, and we would do well to realize that every single person on this planet was created for a purpose. Some have chosen not to walk in God’s plan for their lives, and many do so because they don’t know how, or feel that it’s too late…that their lives can’t change. We know better than that, and we need to stop allowing ourselves to be mouthpieces for the enemy’s lies, and let God use us to encourage others.
This brings us to a crucial matter—not judging other people. Jesus said that the way we judge is how we’ll be judged (ouch, and that’s found in Matthew 7:1-2, by the way). Paul said in Romans 2:1 that when we judge, we’re guilty of the same things we’re judging them about!
But wait! There’s more!
Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4
Who are we to judge someone else? It’s God they answer to, not us. Then, Paul caps that off with the beautiful statement that God is able to and will make them stand.
Be that ray of hope someone else needs today. Don’t pay any mind to what they look like, how they talk, or anything else you can see with your eyes. Ask the Lord to help you express His love toward them and to use you to lift them up. People can pick up on our attitudes, so let them pick up a good one!
Homework:
Our goal in this life is to reach the world for Jesus, and ministering to those without hope is a huge part of that. Determine today to quit judging people and instead carry the love of God to them. You are an ambassador for Christ! Read 2 Corinthians 5:20. Oh, and say this out loud: “I am always ready to believe the best in every person!”
Also remove this sentence, or anything like it, from your speech: “They’ll never change.”
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