For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30
Dear Heavenly Father, one of the many things you’re clearly impressing my heart with during Lent is the larger family into which you’ve placed me. Though I came out of the womb a selfish man… was raised in a culture of individualism… am an introvert by temperament and often a loner by choice… nevertheless, you’ve made me for rich relationship and profound community. I’m seeing this everywhere in the Scriptures, but especially in the plural pronouns. It seems like the “we’s” outnumber the “I’s,” and the “our’s” outnumber the “mine’s,” about ten to one.
How I praise you that the gospel is big enough and powerful enough to turn my concave privatizing heart into a convex engaging heart. Indeed, what but your grace can enlarge my capacity to risk knowing and being known by more of my brothers and sisters in Jesus?
Father, I start getting a bit antsy about all this relational stuff until I ponder just where your story of redemption is taking us. To realize that I’m a part of your cherished family-one of the many pan-national trans-generational sons and daughters upon whom you set your redeeming love… even before you created the world… this is astonishing and profoundly humbling.
To realize that you will bring to completion the good work you’ve begun in every one of your sons and daughters… the called and justified will be the glorified… each one of us will be as lovely as and as loving as Jesus one Day… this is startling and incredibly encouraging. There are no ordinary people. There are no unnecessary people. There are no worthless people. Forgive me when my attitude and actions contradict these affirmations. How the gospel exposes my impatience, mocks my prejudices, makes all my excuses about loner-entitlement look pretty lame and silly.
Because of you, Jesus, I’m not feeling guilt and shame right now, but conviction and motivation to collapse upon you afresh… as my righteousness, my assurance and my hope. I will trust you today for enough mercy and grace to love others as you so faithfully love me. We’ll deal with tomorrow tomorrow. So very Amen, I pray, in your forbearing and patient name.
