The key to our Christian walk is to show respect to everyone even if they do not treat us respectfully. If we focus on being Christ-like, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us, we will be less concerned about how others act toward us.
Everything others do toward us is on them, good or evil. Everything we do with others is on us.
Of course, we will choose our friends wisely so that we have companions to walk with us while we walk with Christ on the path we have chosen.
Proverbs 13:20
"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Proverbs 18:24
"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 27:17
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
Authentic believers who have Christ-like love care deeply for their friends. They are loyal, loving listeners using the word of God to encourage. When we fall our friend weeps with us standing beside us to help us get up again.
1 Corinthians 15:33
"Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Galatians 5:14
"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Those who love others are not looking for past forgiven sins to hold against someone they don't like. Those who love one another weep with a repentant one, when their friend falls, they do whatever they can to restore them with gentleness and kindness.
Galatians 6:1 "Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well."
The goal of the loving and kind believer is to restore someone who is repentant, not to judge or punish.
Born-again believers love to forgive those who are sorry, they love to restore, they love to encourage. Only those who are controlled by the devil enjoy keeping someone down even after God has forgiven them.
The devil is the one who goes before the throne accusing the brethren, this is who is behind the thoughts of those who love to punish those who are forgiven.
Revelation 12:10 "
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night."
Never allow the devil to continually batter you with guilt after God has forgiven you. Do not keep company with those who love their false judgments and their punishing tactics.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
Seek friends who love and be a friend who loves God's way.
