February 5 ~

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God ... the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me ... if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life ... Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us ... don't oppose an evil man ... turn the other cheek ...
1 Pet.4:10 (KJV); Gal.2:20 (KJV); Rom.5:10 (RSV); Eph.5:1 (RSV); Matt.5:39 (Beck)

But should I not, O Lord, correction give
to souls with whom I meet or daily live
when they do something to me that is wrong?

Remember first: To Me, child, thou belong!
And I am meek and lowly. And that all
things touching Thee I send! These facts recall
before one thing to them thou say or do.
I'm shaping thee through them! Make this thy view!
Ne'er let the slightest hint of Self break free:
dismay, annoyance, anger - "poor hurt me" -
but look to Me to all such things take out
of thee before thou dare to set about
correcting them. And, further, make sure Love
- not Self - thy motive is: that Me thou'rt of ...

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... if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us ... God is love ... He who does not love does not know God ... Love is patient with people ... is kind ... never does the graceless thing; never insists on its rights, never irritably loses its temper; never nurses its wrath to keep it warm ... can stand any kind of treatment ... never regards anyone or anything as hopeless ... Love lasts forever ... And now, little children, abide in him ...
1 Jn.4:12,16,8 (RSV); 1 Cor.13:4,5,7,8 (Bar); 1 Jn.2:28 (KJV).

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