"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary:
'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
This applies to my life in a few ways right now:
- I still have bad days. But the Lord is using this time to teach me things and to point out the sins I need to overcome. It's good to be reminded in this time to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
- In my sin, my reaction to this hard time is often to try and one up the other party, to hurt, and to be proud. I want to HATE what is evil and cling to what is good. I want to live right and in peace with all as far as it depends on me.
- Dancing is my thing. It's hard to deal with friends and other people who are learning because my knowledge and understanding of it is no longer on their level. I need to be rebuked to not be conceited. I need to be encouraged to practice hospitality with what I've been given...with all things, including whatever knowledge I may possess.
- In everything, whether dancing or working or being friends with people, I need to be serving the Lord. Period.
- There is an awkward guy at dancing. In my selfishness, I try to avoid him. But I need to remember to put others before myself, to not think of myself as better or cooler or whatever, and to be willing to associate with people with a "lower position."
- I've been very distracted lately. But I need to remember to be present with the people around me. When they mourn, I want to mourn with them. When they are excited, I wanted to be excited for them. I don't want to be thinking about some other conversation or the dress I want to buy when I am with friends (or anybody else for that matter).
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