And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Phil. 1:6 (NLT)
Dear heavenly Father, here’s a huge understatement: I am so thankful that “salvation is of the Lord,” from beginning to end. We were dead in our sins and trespasses when you raised us up to new life in Jesus—granting us complete forgiveness, declaring us righteous in Christ, and sealing and indwelling us with your Spirit. Hallelujah, many times over!
But sometimes I wonder why the process of actually becoming more like Jesus is taking so long—first of all in me, and then in others I love. Quite honestly, at times it’s easier for me to doubt your “whole salvation” commitment to others, than for me—which is a pretty arrogant thing to own, even as I say it and pray it. Forgive me, Father.
When I don’t live with Paul’s certainty about your covenant faithfulness to each of your children, I don’t love well. I become more aware of what “bugs,” me in the lives of others, than what encourages me. I get more impatient than accepting, more rigid than relational, and more condescending than compassionate. I start making unnecessary observations, offering unhelpful criticisms, and giving unrequested suggestions—the very things I hate for people to do toward me.
Father, have mercy on me. Free me to accept others the way you have accepted me in Jesus. It’s one thing for me to “provoke others to love and good deeds,” (Heb. 10:24) and quite another just to provoke them unto irritation and avoidance. By your grace, help me offer others a non-anxious presence, your welcoming heart, and genuine encouragement. I know you’re not calling me to naiveté and passivity; but I also know you’re not calling me to act like the 4th member of the Trinity. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ glorious and grace-full name.