Having loved his own who were in the world, he [Jesus] now showed them the full extent of his love. John 13:1 (NIV 1984)
Lord Jesus, this scene is homeroom for our hearts, oxygen for our souls, health to our bones. This is how you love each of us, Jesus—how you love me. You remain committed to showing us more and more of your love (Eph. 3:18-19).
Only your love, Jesus, can free and change us. Only your love is enough to “get us,” fill us, and heal us. In our most Gospel-sane moments, we know this to be true. It’s our “truest truth.”
Turn moments into stretches. We don’t want just to be occasionally alive to your love; but smitten with your affection way more often than we’re feeling fear, disconnected, and self-pity.
Nobody or nothing has to change for us to be at peace and joyful. Make this more real to us than any virus, presidential elections, and taxes. Forgive us for connecting out “happy-meter” to people, stuff, and circumstances.
You are our loving Master, not our private masseur. Forgive us when we forget the first, and start demanding the second. By the Gospel, keep centering, settling, and releasing us, every hour of every day.
You are already our perfect righteousness; but we long for the Day when we will be made perfect in love (1 John 3:1-3). Soon, Jesus, please. So very Amen we pray, in your merciful and mighty name.