“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Abide in my love.” John 15:9
Lord Jesus, it’s a given, we’re not going to love perfectly until the Day you return to finish making all things new. We will have plenty to repent of until we are “perfected in love” (1 John 4:17).
This doesn’t mean we should set our “love bar” low, or not try to love others as you love us. It means we should start “prepenting” before we need to repent. Preemptive grace-investing gives us something to draw on when we need to make grace withdrawals.
There’s absolutely no better way to “prepent” than to take today’s prayer-verse very seriously, joyfully, and gratefully. Jesus, help us deeply believe you aren’t exaggerating when you tell us you love us “even as” the Father loves you.
This means you love us to the same degree, and with the same delight, that our heavenly Father loves you. It’s why the Apostle Paul called your relationship with us “unsearchable riches” (Eph. 3:8).
So, what’s the way forward in this life of “prepentance?” We are to “abide” in the great love you have for us. “Abide”—not occasionally visit, stop by when convenient, or only run to when in a love-crisis.
It makes all the Gospel-sense in the world: The fuller we are with your love, the less we will be triggered by others, and the freer we will be in challenging relationships. We’ll repent quicker when our thoughts, words, and actions contradict your kindness, gentleness, and love. Jesus, help us with our “prepentance” every one of the last 42 days of 2021. A BIG so very Amen.