“We speak as those who live with God’s approval and his trust as we steward and share the Gospel. We now live to honor God—not please people. That’s why we don’t use flattery to get praise from mere humans, or the benefits of what they can give us. God knows our hearts and is changing our hearts.” (Paraphrase of 1 Thess. 2:4–6)
Lord Jesus, I’d love to be as relationally free and healthy as the Apostle Paul became. It’s not just apostles who need freedom from giving people too much power over our hearts; it’s all of us . . . it’s me. We can’t serve people well if our need for affirmation, fear of rejection, or anger over who they are is greater than our love for you.
As I look at the history of my relational brokenness and sin, three graceless patterns have shown up as various times:
1. I’ve over-expected some people to meet my longings for intimacy, connection, and affection only you can meet, Jesus. That is totally unfair to them, and a statement of how much better I need to know, love, and enjoy you.
2. I’ve over-assumed the role of making some people “happy and holy.” I’d love to be the 4th member of the Trinity in their lives—which isn’t a calling you have given me, Jesus.
3. I’ve over-engaged emotionally with some people—giving them power to ramp up my rage, rob me of joy, and utterly distract me from reveling and resting in your love, delight, and presence. No human being deserves that much power over our hearts, Jesus.
Each of these broken relational patterns underscore how I am still not as free, joyful, or healthy as you intend. And (Hallelujah!) they make the Gospel all the more precious, necessary and real to me. Give me quicker repentances than ever, Jesus; more joy in the journey of becoming like you and all the grace I need to increasingly love others as you love me. So Very Amen.
