“Let ALL you do be done in love” (1Cor16:14). “Love never fails” (1Cor.13:8). “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal.5:6). “We love because he first loved us” (1Jn.4:19). “Your love (Jesus) is better than life” (Ps.63:3). “Perfect love casts out—drives away, expels, ’exorcises’ fear” (1Jn.4:18). “Above all, keep loving…” (1Pet.4:8).
Dear Jesus, since 7 is a number of perfection, these 7 verses about love perfectly give us what we need as we begin our work-week. Over the course of the next 5 days, some of us will face outcomes we can’t control, situations as disconcerting as American politics, or conversations we dread like torn rotator cuffs, a bowl of pureed calf’s liver, or a 3½ hour flight delay. You promise sufficient grace (2Cor.12:9), words we don’t have (Mk.13:11), and your abiding presence (Matt.28:20). Thank you, Jesus. We gladly welcome all three.
I often hear this refrain in my heart: “When we are being treated unfairly, mistreated, or sinned against—instead of getting defensive, let’s go on the offensive. Mount a ‘love offensive.’ That is, repay arrogance with humility, harshness with kindness, cursing with blessing, unreasonableness with ‘sweet reasonableness’ (epieikēs).” (Phil.4:5) Jack Miller.
Jesus, help us, and give us wisdom through people we can trust. We don’t want our traumas and triggers to hold more mastery over us than your grace and Spirit. And we don’t want to enable fools or leave others unprotected simply by running away. You haven’t called us to be doormats but foot washers. May your incomparable, unwavering, inexhaustible love compel, change, and free us. Your love will never fail. We love you—and anyone else, because you first loved us, still love us, and will love us Home. Thank you, and So Very Amen.