“Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” Romans 15:7 (NLT)
CHALLENGE
Desire for God’s Provision: Give me Your unconditional love for all.
PREPARATION
- Praise God for who He is
- Confess your sinfulness and need for cleansing
- Allow His Spirit to draw you near
- Listen as He speaks to you
REQUESTS
- Just as You have loved me, help me to love others.
- Help me to love those that I find hard to love.
- Help me to be aware of those who need my love.
THANKSGIVING
- Thank God for hearing you.
- Trust that God is at work to accomplish His will.
OPTIONAL READINGS
- Galatians 6:1-10
- Luke 7:36-50
QUOTATION
“Pictures we take sometimes disappoint us. The eye edits out things that the camera leaves in–poles and wires and trees and traffic. So compassion edits out some of the bad we see in others so that we may focus on the good .” – Robert C. Shannon
LIFE STORY
Thank you, God, for accepting me unconditionally, just the way I am .
So how can I show my love to you? By loving my children, in the same way that I love you (Galatians 6:10). But what about those people who hurt my feelings? Do you think that you have never hurt me? But what about those people who misunderstand me? Have you always understood me? What about those people who don’t agree with me? Do you always agree with me? Some people have so many faults. You have a few yourself.
That’s right, Lord. You love me in spite of my faults. You are merciful to me. Help me to remember that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). So when it’s hard for me to love—the hard to love, those who do not love me—those who offend me, I will draw on Your strength. Amen.
So if I accept others in the way that Christ has accepted me, I need to reach out to everyone; not just to the popular, or the intelligent, or the smartly-dressed, or the beautiful, or the likeable.
Perhaps there are those in our church community who are not popular, they need me to be their friend. Are there those who need a listening ear? I need to listen. Or those who are misunderstood? I need an understanding heart. Are there those who are just plain irritating? I need to show the love of Jesus. “By this shall all men know you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35).
Contributed by: Delores Winger