“Live a life of love—in response to how Christ loved us by giving himself up for us …” (Eph.5:2).
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph. 4:32
Dear Jesus, you never call us to live in denial about the reality and challenges of loving others well. But that’s not where you start any conversation about our relational selves. You call us to be utterly shocked, smitten, and preoccupied with you and your great love for us. And out of a growing (and re-growing) relationship you, we are to get healthier and love others. Indeed, though we have been hardwired and programed to live by karma (tit-for-tat), you call us to live “grace upon grace” (John 1:16)—enjoying, reveling in, then extending your grace to others.
Therefore overwhelm us afresh with your everlasting love and unfailing kindness, Jesus. We want to live astonished and nourished by your truth, goodness, and beauty. Renew our first-love for yourself. Restore our first-joy in the Gospel. Refuel our first-freedom of belonging to you. Refire our first-delight in living and loving to your glory.
Help us build a culture of grace in our friendships, marriages, parenting, and extended families. Help us break the cycle of living 90% horizontally and 10% vertically—or living as affirmation junkies, score-carders, rejection “phobiacts, or relational pragmatists. Help us take back the power we’ve given people to make us, break us, shame or control us. No human being deserves that kind of power over our hearts.
Jesus, we long for the Day when we will be made perfect in love (1 John 3:1-3). Until that Day, keep toppling our people-idols by the riches of your grace and wonders of your love. So Very Amen.
