And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Phil. 1:6 (NLT)
Heavenly Father, here’s a huge understatement: I am so thankful that “salvation is of the Lord,” from beginning to end. We didn’t need coaching; we needed resurrection. We were dead in our sins and trespasses when you raised us up to new life in Jesus—granting us complete forgiveness and declaring us righteous in Christ. Oh, the wonders of your grace!
But sometimes I wonder why the process of actually becoming more like Jesus is taking so long—first of all in me, and then in others. Quite honestly, at times it’s easier for me to trust you’re going to complete your work in me than in others. Forgive me, Father.
When I forget your covenant faithfulness to each of your children, I don’t love well. I become more aware of what “bugs,” me in them, than what encourages me. I get more impatient than accepting, more rigid than relational, and more condescending than compassionate. I start making unnecessary observations, offering unhelpful criticisms, and giving unrequested suggestions—the very things I don’t like others to do to me.
Father, have mercy on me. Free me to accept others the way you’ve accepted me in Jesus (Rom. 15:7). It’s one thing for me to “provoke others to love and good deeds,” (Heb. 10:24) and quite another to provoke them unto avoiding me.
By your grace, help me offer others your welcoming heart, genuine encouragement, and grace-fueled kindness. I know you’re not calling me to naiveté and passivity; but I DO know you’re calling me to love others as Jesus loves me. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ glorious and grace-full name.