“As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love…” Col. 3:12-14
Dear Jesus, relationships… Oh the rapture and the rupture, the highs and the lows, the glory of deep connecting and seasons of feeling like total strangers—if not enemies. Our relationships confirm that we have “eternity in our hearts” (Eccl.3:11), God’s image in our DNA (Gen.1:26-27), and a gigantic need for redemption only you can provide. Hallelujah… you freely and fully “oblige.”
You made us for yourself, Jesus, and our deepest, most powerful, and most insatiable longings for relationship can only be met by you. You are our Ultimate Spouse (2Cor.11:2) and friend (Jn.15:13-15). No other adoring mate, legion of “perfect” friends, boss, peers, or neck-hugging gaggle of kids and grands can take your place. They are gifts, but you are the Gift and giver of all good things.
When we are most alive to your beauty, grace, and goodness—to the reality of our being “chosen, set apart, and dearly loved” by you—that’s when we are our freest and fullest… most sane, most healthy, most at peace. Make it so Jesus. Make it so again and again and again.
Knowing you as you intend puts every other relationship into perspective. We can deeply enjoy and treasure others without making them our Treasure, idol, or reason for being. Jesus, in these upcoming weeks, please fill our hearts to overflowing with yourself. Then fill our thoughts, words, and hands with your “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” for others. So Very Amen.
