A Prayer about Loving Jesus with An Undying Love

     Dear Lord Jesus, I need to heed this last verse from Ephesians like I need to breath oxygen and drink water, for I cannot exist apart from your love. The call to love you with an “undying love” is not a burden; it’s simply the doxological response to the life-giving love you lavish upon us. And there’s no greater demonstration of love than your death for us upon the cross; throughout eternity, we’ll feel as though we’re just beginning the survey of the wonders of your cross—its height, width, depth and breadth. We worship, praise and bless, your holy and worthy name!

     You didn’t lay down your life for deserving friends, but for rebels, fools, and idolaters—like me. Lord Jesus, you love us right now; you’ve freed us from our sins by your blood; and you’ve made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and Father forever (Rev. 1:5-6). What wondrous love is this, indeed! Jesus, please make the familiar sound of these words come alive with holy passion and fresh delight.

     Your love for us is the one constant in our lives; for everything else changes—everything else is subject to whim and fancy. Our brothers and sisters in heaven are more happy than we are, but they are not more loved. May the cooling of our affections bother us more than the fragile economy, concerns about our health, political upheaval, or anything else. Lord Jesus, don’t let us ever get used to status quo, business-as-usual, dispassionate love for you. Stoke the fires of our love with the truth and power of the gospel.

     If by the Holy Spirit we hear you saying to us this morning, “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Rev. 2:4), may it be welcomed as a kiss from heaven, for it means you are pursing us; it means you love us, your desire is for us, your banner over us is love. That you are jealous for our love is the greatest compliment you could possibly pay us. So very Amen we pray, in your glorious and grace-filled name.