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Keep Relationships above differences

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A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV) John 13:34

God values relationship. He placed each one of us in a web of relationships. Relationship with others is the vital part of our life. Every relationship will grow and sustain only when there is a real love. A brief overview of love mentioned in 1 Cor.13:3-8 as follows: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” Jesus modeled love by laying down his own life for other’s sake. It is a self-sacrificing and a self-giving love.

Each one of us are different in our thinking, feeling, perception and convictions. Therefore, we should expect occasional differences with others. In such occasion, we need to value the person and our relationship with that person more than our difference. It is common in our society that people break relationships, friendships and ignore the value of other person because of differences. God’s way of handling relationship struggles is all about forgiveness, reconciliations, restoration, respecting the uniqueness of others and love. Relationship is not all about winning your side rather it is all about love. It is not about bringing the way you want but it is all about respecting the other person’s value.

How do you handle your differences with others? How do you value people when there is a difference?

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