Love is...

Love is...
Slow to suspect - quick to trust.
Slow to condemn - quick to justify.
Slow to offend - quick to defend.
Slow to expose - quick to shield.
Slow to reprimand - quick to forbear.
Slow to belittle - quick to appreciate.
Slow to demand - quick to give.
Slow to provoke - quick to help.
Slow to resent - quick forgive.

I believe that if the people in the churches that we attend would decidedly act in love toward one another in all these ways and others, churches would be so much better off. This ought to be true of families as well.
Why is it that we often hurt and are the hardest on those to whom we love or say that we love?
We must act in true agape love for each other, not to be suspicious of each other and we ought to seek and desire the very best for each other.
It seems we don't act in a way that is good for the whole rather we act on behalf of what we want. It's what Paul and James both said that we act in selfishness rather than on seeking the best for others. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
You might be asking yourself about now, "Well, who is he talking to?"
Yes, I'm talking to you (and me).