“Do everything in love.” (1 Cor. 16:14)
Heavenly Father, “Do everything in love?… are you serious? The Gospel is the only reason we don’t laugh this off, like Sarah did when you told her she’d have a baby at 90. We love because you first loved us, and gave Jesus as our perfect and complete Savior (1 John 4:19).
We won’t love perfectly till heaven; but we are already loved perfectly by you. Now and forever, Father, you love us without conditions, limits, wavering, qualifiers, or disqualifiers. Thank you.
We have reason to love, and we also have resources: You as our Father of compassion and God of all comfort. The Holy Spirit’s sealing, indwelling, and power. Our union with Christ, and his life in us. Plus, Gospel-friends to walk with, repent with, and pray with. SO, help us love well…
When we’d rather get even than give grace.
When we’re tired, frustrated, and sleep-deprived.
When we’re triggered by past wounds and broken trust.
When we aren’t being named, noticed, thanked, or appreciated.
When we’re with those who vote, think, and worship differently than us.
Father, keep our hearts alive to your tenacious, wild, lavish, joyful, transforming love. This will make all the difference in the world… literally, in the world, where you’ve called us to live, work, and play. It will also free us to love well in our complex, challenging family stories; and among fellow believers (which, perhaps, has never required more grace). So Very Amen, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.