“The whole law is fulfilled in one word: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep biting and devouring one another, in time, you’ll consume each other. Instead, walk in and by the Spirit” … never forgetting: “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.” (Gal. 5:15-16, 6)
Dear Abba, thank you for documenting the relational failures, foibles, and foolishness of your people—like the mess Paul had to deal with in Galatia. The fact that you’ve chronicled just how poorly we love one another is a witness to the steadfastness of your love, and the depth of our brokenness. It also makes it easier for me to repent and receive grace—not go to shame and dispense blame. We (I) need the Gospel every day, every hour, in every relationship.
One Day we will be made perfect in love. On the Day you finish your “good work” in us, we will love perfectly as we are already perfectly loved. Hallelujah! Sear and seal this hope upon our hearts, and may it be the fuel for earnest reflection and change. Come, Holy Spirit, come… and grant us godly sorrow and deep repentance for the ways we hide the beauty of Jesus in the weeds of our reactions and resentments, and by our unguarded hearts and unfiltered words.
Abba, help us realize that loving well is more “Help me” than “Help us.” For we have no power over anyone else. We can’t even change our own hearts, must less anybody else’s heart. So, once again astonish us, refresh us, renew us, and fill us with your outrageous, without-parallel, extravagant love.
Free us to love “as unto you,” Father, as an expression of thanksgiving and as an act of worship. Free us (me) from having any “need” for our kindness to be acknowledged, appreciated, or celebrated by a “big band and big cake.” So Very Amen.