Emily Miller
I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3
As I prayed over what God wanted to share with Christ Fellowship in this fasting season, I felt drawn to Ephesians 4:1-3. I sense God urging us as a church to step into His kingdom by tearing down our own preconceptions, grudges, frustrations, and even hurts in order to gain the capacity to love our neighbors – and love them well. Not just doing so because we have to, but as Ephesians 4 says, doing so eagerly because we want to!
This feels much easier said than done, though. So, how do we do it practically? A simple answer is to ask God for help. I encourage you today to quiet your hearts and ask God to help you see everyone you encounter through His eyes. And yes, I mean everyone: your family and friends, boss and coworkers, your barista, the guy who cut you off on the interstate, even the person on the other end of a telemarketing phone call. If you sit with God long enough in these encounters, you will quickly begin to experience your grudges, judgments, and biases breakdown and realize that we are all His children whom He loves deeply. We are called to live a life worthy of the calling that the God of the universe has called us to. That includes loving everyone we encounter – whether we like them or not!
This is not an easy ask, especially when talking about the people who are hard to love in your life. But when it is tough, I challenge you to take a second and picture a world where everyone sets aside their differences and picks up their calling from the Lord. I don’t know about you, but I get energized when I let myself imagine that world and want to do my part to make His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven today.
Prayer
God, thank You for being the ultimate model of how to love. Thank You for. loving me, even when I do not deserve it. Father, I pray that You would help soften my heart to those I have a difficult time loving. Bring to mind who I can love and how I can love them well today. Show me Your heart for Your children and help me to see others as You do. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. I love You, Lord. Amen.
