Romans 12: 9-21
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted
to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the
Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share
with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be
proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not
be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the
eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live
at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room
for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will
repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something
to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am
only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy
and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith
that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all
I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not
love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,
it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not
delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always
trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where
there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it
will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when
perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked
like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I
became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection
as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then
I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life
of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude
of sins.
1 John 4:9-12
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son
into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that
we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice
for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love
one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God
lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep
warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three
strands is not quickly broken.
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