Love believes the best of everyone. Love is ever ready to believe the best of every person.

Too often we (I'm still just talking about those whom are in Christ) are drawn to hear the worst about someone.

In this area of our study, I think we should consider how often we find ourselves focused, or concerned, or even amused by negative things we here about those we are suppose to love, and how wrong it is.

Remember, God looks at the heart of man. and so, we can't hide anything from Him.

(Romans 14:10-12), "You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."

Revelation 2:23 says it is God who, "Searches hearts and minds."

When we catch ourselves involved in any kind of thought or discussion about someone and it isn't focused on the best of that person then we must stop and search our hearts.

When we hear something negative about someone, what a beautiful opportunity we have to redirect the attention toward the best quality of that individual. If you don't know the person or have never seen a quality that you think would be considered 'best', then avoid being drawn into the issue at all. It may be that God is giving you the opportunity to look for the best in that person being talked about.

If love, Gods' love is in our heart, then we will believe the best about people because real love responds in that way.

I have to go back to an earlier study where we talked about Gods reasoning to point out one reason why we are so wrong in this area.

We might see, hear, and even be gossiping about the fact that so-in-so was late for work, didn't have any excuse, setting a pattern, a bad example, bla bla bla,...

From where our Father is sitting, He can see the struggle at home this morning with a 'hung-over' husband, or the child that was ill, or a hundred other scenarios. He can see that she is even too ashamed to share (render as an excuse for) this 'thing' with anyone and 'why' she feels this way. We, in our 3-dimensioned world, in the flesh and not remaining in the Spirit (like we should) do not see things like He SEES.

But I said this is only one reason we are in error because it is even bigger than 'us not seeing what others are dealing with', or why people do what they do. For that would be like finding justification for why we focus on the worst.

The truth is simply that when you are not seeing the best in that person, then you are not loving them. And, if you are not loving that person then you cannot help, change, inspire, or be used by God in that persons life.

The truth is that when we are interested in hearing the worst about others, then it is time for confession, repentance, prayer, and change.

(1 Corinthians 13:6), "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."

From our previous study, we know that the definition of love is 'an action directed to another person (which is motivated by our relationship to Christ) and is done without thought of personal reward.'

Jesus said,
 
(John 13:34-35), "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

Jesus said to those who had believed in Him,
 
(John 8:31-32), "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

The truth is that God loves us and has done everything possible to save us. (Romans 5:8), "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

We can always find something good to say about someone and we should always believe the best. It is our responsibility as a Christian to look for the good and to believe the best (not the worst).

(Romans 8:14 "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

(James 1:19 NLT), "My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry."

The Holy Spirit leads us to shine the best light on others. It is what we would want them to do for us. Being quick to listen for the truth and to search for the best in others reveals that the Spirit is in control. We should be willing to listen twice as much as we want to speak.

Believing is an act of the will. It is a discipline. We are to control our imagination, rather than let it run wild. When we first hear of something, it is so easy to believe the worst unless we are attentive to the Spirit.

The apostle Paul said,
 
(2 Corinthians 10:5), "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
 
(Matthew 7:12 NLT). We would always want others to believe the best about us (rather than jumping to conclusions).

That is connected to the concluding thought from the apostle in his letter to the Philippians,
 
(4:8). "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Gods love in our heart wants to believe the best and to do what is right.

We have been given that power of choice so that we can choose to believe what is honorable and right and worthy of praise (or not).

In addition, we should not stop at just believing something because the belief must be combined with action. In speaking about Abraham and connecting his faith with action,

(James 2:24) says, "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."

It is impossible to know if a person believes the best or the worst, unless it is expressed in words or put into action. We can have good intentions and believe the very best about someone, but that must be put into action (or words) for anything positive to result.

(James 2:17)."Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all — it is dead and useless, 

It is certainly right to believe the best of others, but let us put that belief into action when God has opened the way (or the opportunity) for us to do so. Let us be an encourager to our fellow Christians, neighbors and friends. If we encouraged one person a day, there would be 365 more people with a positive outlook each year.

A close, personal relationship with Christ, reveals itself in believing the best about others. Love takes the time to care. Whatever our primary interest is (and no matter how filled our day may be) we find time to do what we want to do. The urgent often seems to crowd out the important.

Spending time with those we love is not always a priority, but it should be. Twenty years from now the work will still be there, but those moments with little ones, elderly, etc,. will have vanished forever. The resetting of priorities begins right in the home. Little ones don't stay little for long and you never know how long you will have the opportunity with anyone.

Love calls for us to set aside our wants and focus on someone else's needs. Reading about the life of Jesus in any of the Gospels, shows Him taking the time (or making the time) for people who needed His attention. We can often show Christ-like love just by taking advantage of the opportunities God gives us in the course of a day.

Anyone we come in contact with is to be considered our neighbor, as Jesus explained in His story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:27). The man became a good Samaritan because he took advantage of the opportunity to help someone who had a definite need (while the others ignored him and walked by).

The Apostle Paul expressed the same concept,

 (Romans 15:1-3), "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself…"

The opportunity to help may not be presented every day, but when it does, may God enable us to reach out and become a good Samaritan.

(Matthew 6:33), "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

"He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."

When our priorities are in line with God's Word, and when we are following the Spirit, believing the best about others will flow out of our hearts and out to those we come into contact with.

Love believes the best of everyone.

I love you.