“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them … Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other … Live in harmony with each other … Do all you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:9-10,16,18
Lord Jesus, how could we not crave living in a relationship-culture described in these verses? So much kindness and encouragement going on here—with fresh grace wafting through the AC system, and a soundtrack of mercy, honor, and affection playing in the background—or maybe in the foreground.
Is this the life of heaven? In one way, Yes, for it takes the riches of heaven to cultivate hearts, marriages, churches, and friendships that look like this. But in another way, No, for in heaven we won’t have to be implored, commanded, coached into this kind of relational beauty. It will be our automatic joy, instinct, and nature. Hallelujah, and thank you, Jesus.
But have called us now—well before heaven, increasingly to live and love like this. We won’t do it perfectly, but for your glory and by your grace, we can choose kindness over rightness. We can choose to love others as you love us, Jesus. We can grow in grace, repent quicker, re-collapse on you sooner, Jesus. We can get to know you better and better.
At the end of our days, I can’t imagine any of us saying, “I’m so glad I nursed that grudge, fertilized my roots of bitterness, held onto my self-righteousness, stubbornness, and resentment.” You aren’t calling us to denial or dishonesty, Jesus, but you are calling us to yourself. And you promise to give us everything we need to live and love to your glory. Help us Jesus, while it is still today. So Very Amen.