In growth and maturity, unconditional love is the test. Even the unbeliever loves when all is going well.

The more people speak evil of me, the more I should rejoice because it means I am becoming more like Jesus. The more I see a pastor going through evil speaking the more I should know, he is building the kingdom of God.

If you only love someone according to their outward appearance, you don't really love them. If you only love them when you agree with them, you don't really love them. If you only love them when neither of you need the grace of God, you don't really love them.

Being blessed or having joy is a state of the soul and not a condition of what is going on around you.

In the family of God, there will always be some people who do believe in us, encourage us and build us up.

It is not a spiritually mature person who keeps a record of offenses, grievances and wrongs.

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

13 So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

We love Him because He first loved us.

We love each other because he loved us first.

We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments.

5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

22 What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. 23 When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord-- all who follow his ways! 2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!

Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.

Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.

He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad. 18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn't tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

20 A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: