Paul encourages his brethren to stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong, and to do everything with love. This verse leads into the final words of 1 Corinthians. We can love through everything we do, from driving on the freeway to picking up someone else’s trash. Cleaning the bathroom is a chore we do for our family, but it can also be an act of love for those who will use it. The love may not be easily recognized in the action, but it is behind the action, making it happen. Even in the most mundane or gross tasks we do, we can find an element of love inciting us onward. It may not seem possible to clean the toilet with love, but it is. “Let all your things be done with charity.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 Seeing our enemies as people worthy of love and respect is the starting point to perfect love. He only responded with, “The one who showed him mercy.” Love reaches past the hurt, anger, and differences and cares for the other person’s wellbeing. When Jesus highlighted this, the expert could barely speak the enemy’s name. In Luke 10:25-37, an expert in the law responded to Jesus’s quoting of this verse by asking that very question, “Who is my neighbor?” Christ Jesus responded with the “Parable of the Good Samaritan.” In the parable, an enemy to the expert was the one who loved the neighbor. And probably just as long, people have been asking the qualifier, “Who is my neighbor?” We want to get that straight, because we don’t want to waste our love on someone who doesn’t qualify. “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:18Īs far back as Moses, God has been asking us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We don’t just know our neighbors’ names we are helpful to them when they are in need, show them kindness, and we even extend patience when their dog wakes us up. This type of love creates community with others where relationships are built and lives are shared. Love eliminates murder, theft, adultery, and covetousness. If we love our neighbor as ourselves, then there is no need for the law. We owe a debt of love to one another-a debt that is not paid and done, but one that works its way out as we live side by side. Love supersedes the commandments, though. It’s easy to get caught up between right and wrong and our list of rules. For this, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,’ ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ ‘Thou shalt not steal,’ ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness,’ ‘Thou shalt not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Romans 13:8-9

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Love your enemies bible verse kjv