The opposite of selfishness is not self-hatred, but mature self-love, loving ourselves as a responsible, caring parent would (or should) love a growing child.

Jesus set the bar very high when it comes to love. We no longer live for ourselves, but to Christ, who commands us to love everyone, including our enemies.

He who loves God must love his brother, including every fellow human being. Our closeness with God transcends the other human relationships.

God appreciates when we show concern for others, developing the maturity to overlook the slights others have made to us. Love sets an example for others.

God's people are like a musical ensemble, each having unique pitches and timbre. As we yield to our Conductor, we also blend with one another, creating harmony.

Similar to the way people pull together in times of crisis, we must also have a goal, a vision of the finish line, in order to overcome and grow.

Love doesn't become 'love' until we act. If we don't do what is right, the right feeling will never be formed; emotions are largely developed by our experiences.

The old serpent that deluded Eve has bastardized the term love, flooding the world with over one billion books distorting love. This is not the love of God.

We are called to take on the very natōre of God, to pōt on the love of God. Sōrprisingly, We can rekindle oōr first love by ardently keeping God's Commandments.

Love is the first fruit of the Spirit, the one trait of God that exemplifies His character. The Bible defines love as both what it is and what it does.

God is the source of real love; mankind by nature does not have it. It is only by knowing God that we can have this love. Godly love is a cycle that God initiates.

Even things like poor health can be a good thing in terms of what God is doing with us, even though on the outside it looks like it's bad.

Love is not a feeling, but an action—defined as keeping God's commandments, the only means by which we can possibly know Him, leading to eternal life.

Paul fought against discord by reminding the brethren that the church is united in Christ, and that He requires His followers to show love to each other.

God does not love everybody equally. Nowhere does He tell us to prefer the ungodly world. Though He tells us to love our enemies, but not to be affectionate.

We are obligated to show compassion and mercy to all, refraining from gossip, exercising righteous judgment, forgiving others and applying the Golden Rule.

We should be thankful to God for His Holy Spirit, spiritual blessings, fellowship, as well as God's promise that He will finish what He has started.

The peace offering teaches many things, but one of its main symbols is fellowship. Our communion with the Father and the Son obligates us to pursue peace.

We must lay aside every weight, accept God's chastening, receive encouragement from those who have gone before, and get back into the spiritual race.

The current stormy cultural headwinds consist of noise, hurry, and party spirit. We must replace the gentile style of leadership and elevating leaders.

We are royalty, part of the highest Family in all creation. We can take great comfort in knowing who it is we really are and that the Father greatly values us.

When Paul attempted to motivate the Corinthians, he compared them to the Philippians, who were more generous with what they had than the richer Corinthians.

Christ's redemption obligates us to obey and serve Him. We show our gratitude for this priceless gift by doing good in acts of love and service to others.

The marriage covenant was designed to bring incomplete components of the God image together in one flesh, from which other relationships developed.

We must exercise longsuffering and kindness to all, including to those that have done ill to us. We are disciples of Christ if we love one another.

Jesus twice asks Peter if he has agape love, and both times Peter can only respond that he has tremendous personal affection — he was lacking agape love.

A native practice involves leaving a young man on a remote island with only a bow and arrows until he learns to become a man, and God does something similar.

How does God identify Himself with His disciples today? No miracle manifests itself when He sends His Spirit, but the Spirit begins producing miraculous changes.

One of our primary duties as Christians is to build strong, loving relationships with our brethren. What are you supplying to the growth of the body?

God has called many to be the bride, but only a relative few have been chosen. We have the honor of having God as our friend just as much as Abraham.

Jesus Christ is the Vine and His Father is the Vinedresser; we are the branches, subject to trimming and pruning in order that we bear abundant fruit.

We give peace offerings today through living sacrifice, keeping God's law out of love and to glorify Him rather than just to perform duty.

One definition of sin is 'missing the mark,' as hamartia denotes. Unless our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, we have failed to reach our goal.

God has provided the God-plane marriage relationship to teach us how to submit to one another, sacrificing our self-centeredness for the benefit of our spouse.

The unity Jesus appeals for with His disciples is not organizational unity, but unity within the divine nature, exampled in the unity between He and the Father.

We need to nurture fellowship with our spiritual siblings, forgiving others as Christ forgave, steadfastly resisting pride and division within the church.

We have been given an incredible privilege to be placed within the Body of Christ. This same privilege applies to our fellow saints as well.

The humble attitude exemplified by Jesus in footwashing shows the mind of God. God expects us to follow Christ's example of loving others, flaws and all.

The free-will God has allowed mankind has led to some tragic consequences or disruptions, but none of these are outside of His control.

Jesus puts a condition on our friendship: We are His friends if we do what He commands, unlike the assumption that belief on His name is the only requirement.

In terms of patriotism to God's Kingdom, Jesus set the standard higher than anyone else, sacrificing His life for everyone, even before the Father called them.

When the U.S. Congress wanted to put 'In God we Trust' on currency, the Seventh Day Adventists objected, arguing that the U.S. has never been a Christian nation.

If we allow the old, carnal man to dictate how we speak or make other decisions, we will trouble the household of God and inherit nothing but the wind.

The Pharisees were in the office or seat of Moses. Jesus taught His followers to follow their words (pertaining to the Law of God), but not their personal examples.

Persistence in prayer does not mean an incessant pestering God into action. God always looks at our petitions from the vantage-point of His purpose.

Are we ready to sacrifice as was Moses, realizing that our precious calling is far more than the imaginary quest of Don Quixote?

God made male and female in His image and has determined that the binary metamorphize into unitary in order to accomplish higher Spiritual purposes.

If we fear our boss, college professor, employer, or spouse more than God, we are guilty of idolatry, putting human figures in the place of God.

Jesus Christ was not a sunshine patriot, but sacrificed everything He had for the sake of God's people and the Kingdom of God—His holy nation.

When a nation loses its morals, people feel free to take advantage of one another, especially the poor. God hates seeing the poor oppressed.

The unity of God's church does not derive from organizational expertise, the conformity of ecumenism, or the tolerance for evil, but from the family model.

True worship of God is more than just not sinning but also visiting the widows and the fatherless. These categories represent all who are weak and lack support.

The fear and trembling before God is more like reverence and awe instead of abject terror. It leads us to total dependence upon God with a desire to repudiate sin.

When God calls us and redeems us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we suddenly come under obligation—a debt we cannot pay but overshadows all we do.

Our intimate fellowship should not be with the world, but be concentrated upon God and those who have made the Covenant, loving them as we would ourselves.