Do you understand the importance of forgiveness? The Bible gives this so much emphasis that believers realize the need to seek forgiveness when they require it and to grant it when it is asked of them. This would seem to cover all situations, but what do you do when someone needs your forgiveness and refuses to seek it? Is this a situation in which you must withhold forgiveness? In this case are you restrained from acting or can you accept an apology that you never received?

Do you understand that you are to love your enemies? Do you understand that love is the central characteristic of your faith, and that you are to express it for everyone? So the expression of your love should not be limited to your enemies, but that does define the extreme extent of your circle of love. The Bible assumes that you will love your friends, and associate with those of your own tribe and economic status, who can repay your generosity to them. Doing so is not an acknowledgement of a transcendent reality, but loving your enemies is. How about loving everyone in between?

Do you have an attitude of gratitude? This rhythmic phrase has become a popular proverb, but it has underlying substance. This is a good place to start, but not a good place to end. What concrete actions do you take to express your gratitude? What about the people in your life that you love; that you are closest to? Are you aware of how much your own life is enriched by contact with them? Do they know how grateful you are for them? How can they know if you don’t tell them? What about all the favorable circumstances and conditions in your life for which there is no person to thank?

Do you practice virtue signaling? If you say the right things you can give the impression of righteousness. This was a common practice in my time and I spoke out against it. I said that you should give your alms in secret and pray in secret rather than publicly to be seen by others and that your Father in heaven would reward you openly. Note that the emphasis here is on externals. Do you think this practice is less prevalent now than it was in my time? This is an enduring principle, to avoid the conflict between seeking the approval of men and doing things for my sake alone.