With the Barnabas Paper

Do not be deceived. These days it is hard to trust. One sure thing about trust is that if you feel genuine love from someone then that person can be trusted. The verses in 1st Corinthians 13 define love pretty thoroughly. When you have a friend; you can tell if they really care about you when they look you in the eyes as you talk to them. They care when they don't jump into telling you something about themselves before you have even finished telling them your story or your issue. A true friend cares more about you than they do themselves. Love is not selfish or self-seeking.

1st Corinthians 13:4 and 5 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

The friend you can trust is the one who is kind. They do not get angered easily. I really like the idea of a friend who does not keep a record of wrongs. They like hardly notice when you do something wrong. Some examples are like when your friend does not return a call when they said they would call you back. Another example is when your friend does not show up for you when you planned to do something together. Not a lot of us let those kinds of things slide. Not everyone is quick to forgive. But, when someone walks in love they easily forgive.

 Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

More verses to read: Ephesians 4:32 and Matthew 6:14

Sometimes when it is really difficult to forgive we can take hold of this verse in Proverbs; I can trust the Lord and lean not to my own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

My own understanding says to retaliate and not forgive. God's understanding is to show kindness, forgive others in spite of their ugly behavior. Another benefit of trusting is that I am kept in perfect peace because I trust in the Lord.  Isaiah 26:3

Thank You, Diane King