Love Believes All Things

As I listened to a recent sermon by one of the elders at my church based on the love chapter, I was drawn to the section that says “love believes all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). But what does it actually mean? Clearly, it could not mean that love believes everything, since Jesus counsels us to beware of deceptions and false doctrines. Instead, the speaker noted that it implies that love sees the best in others, and gives the other person the benefit of the doubt. Love would cause us to have a readiness to believe all the good things about another person.

“We need to cherish love in our hearts. We should not be ready to think evil of our brethren. We must put the least construction on what they do or what they say. We must be Bible Christians” (Ellen G. White, This Day With God, p. 83). Therefore we must examine our own hearts to determine if love exists there, yet not according to how we feel, but according to God’s law of love that is embedded in the Ten Commandments. We should examine the trend of our thinking patterns when things are not to our suit? Also, what is our manner of thinking about someone who differs significantly from us in belief, opinion, habit or even appearance. 

While I was in Florida recently visiting my parents, I had the opportunity to attend a concert where Mary Grace performed. If you have never heard of her, she is an accomplished pianist in spite of being born without a right forearm. However, when her adopted parents consulted music teachers to teach her music, there were several music teachers who had no thought that the young girl would be capable of playing music because of her disability. Currently, however, Mary Grace shares Jesus through music internationally, playing in like manner as a two-handed accomplished pianist, making use of her stub. Someone besides the parents believed Mary Grace could do what was seemingly impossible! One teacher believed the best about her, and took on the challenge! 

Jesus had to believe the best about us to come to this earth to succour us. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “Jesus was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification (pardon)” (Romans 4:25). “As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). “For the joy that was set before him (Jesus) endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). The joy that was set before Jesus was that of seeing souls redeemed by the sacrifice of His glory, His honor, His riches, and His own life. The salvation of man was His joy. When all the redeemed shall be gathered into the kingdom of God, He will see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied” (Ellen G. White, That I May Know Him, p. 368).

While Jesus was still on this earth He had interesting encounters with people. There was Nathanael who questioned, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Here he manifested skepticism regarding Jesus as the Son of God. But as Nathanael approached Jesus, Jesus said of him, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47). There was Peter who denied knowing Jesus just before His crucifixion. But Jesus’ look of love alone spoke volume, and though Peter wept, he had no need to despair. And how did Jesus deem the priests, scribes, elders, soldiers and and the mob who thirsted for His blood? He deemed none beyond hope for he breathed the words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Can Jesus give us the power to believe the best about others even if we have failed miserably in the past? Can He free us from breaking the ninth commandment which prohibits believing lies about our neighbors? Most definitely! It is by faith in His righteousness alone that this can be accomplished. In fact, no matter how degraded or debased one may appear, “God so loved that person “that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We can trust in the power of God’s love demonstrated through His Son.

If Jesus is our example, let us take a look at what we really believe about some of the people in our lives. When I asked the Lord to help me in this area, it was as though He was saying, “What took you so long?” The next day He revealed what appeared to be the root of my faulty way of thinking. It was such an exciting moment. I was filled with praise and thanksgiving. Ponder this! Since Jesus wants us to speak the truth in our hearts (Psalm 15:2), we can trust Him not only for cleansing us from unrighteous thoughts, but also for enabling us to believe the best about others. Let’s take that journey with Jesus!