December 9, 2022 - 1 John 2:7-8a

“Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it.” 1 John 2:7-8a NLT

Jesus, we thank you so much for how you love us. We want to learn to love like you love. Your love for the Father and the Holy Spirit is such a great example to us of how to love one another. You love each other perfectly. You walk in perfect harmony and unity. You do not allow pride or selfishness to try and push yourself above the other two, but you allow humility and love to rule in your relationship. Humility and love keep your relationship in perfect balance.

Jesus, the way you loved people while you were on earth was also something to learn from. I wish I could have witnessed, in person, you interacting with people on earth. You could have the shortest interaction with someone and make them feel so seen and loved that they would drop everything to go and follow you. We want to be so full of your Spirit and your love that when we have even brief interactions with strangers, they feel seen and loved. Help us to see the people around us with your eyes. Give us your insight. Help us learn how to live life focused outward and not lost in our own world all the time. Jesus, you also showed us how to love those who were against you. Teach us how to express your love to those people who make loving them seem impossible. Increase our heart for them. Give us your insight to understand what is happening deep in their hearts and not just their actions. Give us your grace and patience with people. Help us learn to forgive again and again like you do with us. Place a spring of your love within us that has a constant flow bubbling out of us.

In Jesus name, amen.