But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us,
not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Tit. 3:4-6 (ESV)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Col. 3:12 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, there’s so much good news crammed into these two passages. Thank you for being tenaciously kind, steadfastly gentle, and relentlessly patient with us. The gospel is the best thing we have going for us as 2020 begins. We are dearly loved because you have deeply hidden our lives in Christ. Thank you.
No matter what happens in this USA election year, our union with Jesus will be our peace, joy, and hope. It will also be our “rocket fuel” for change. Your kindness towards us in Jesus leads us to repent of the ways we love others poorly—in thought, word, and deed. May we never get used to being “cranky,” unkind or resentful.
Father, we repent of over-believing the worst of people and under-believing the gospel. We repent of being easily irritated and hair-trigger annoyed. Though our culture is getting more cynical and critical, that’s not who we want to be, and it’s certainly not how you’ve called us to act.
We want to major in kindheartedness and encouragement in 2020. May our healing words outnumber our harsh words 1000 to 1 this year. We even want to speak grace fluently with our body-language.
So, Father, as we reach for the garments of grace in the closet of the gospel— “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” pour your Spirit afresh into our hearts. Compel us to love others as Jesus loves us. Help us think, feel, speak, and act in line with the truth of the gospel, starting with this January Thursday. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ tender and loving name.