We are told a lot who to hate, who is going to do this or that to stir up our anger and even create hate towards another person or group. These things are used because one person or group wants to win. This is not of God. God tells us in His word how to handle this.
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Jesus tells us we will know them by their fruits not by their many words. In a multitude of words sin is not lacking. If we are looking for the fruits of others we look for what God says His will is for us, for what His word says in how we are to live, walk, and work. John 14:15 says “if you love Me keep My commandments. Simple as that? We all have sinned and fallen short.
Psalm 41:1-3 Blessed is he who considers the poor. The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive. And he will be blessed on the earth. You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed.
Proverbs 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord and He will pay back what he has given.
1 John 3:17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as possible in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, patience, against such there is no law.
Matthew 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Lord, we thank You for Your perfect word. Lord, Your actions spoke before Your word was written! Your actions have spoken volumes. They are not empty or hollow. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Lord, help us to let our actions speak for us and not empty words. Let us look past the words for the actions and at the actions. Change begins with each of us. Help us to clean up our own lives so we may shine for You. In Jesus name amen.
