And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph. 4:30-5:2
Merciful Father, mighty Holy Spirit, most compassionate Lord Jesus—great and gracious Triune God. I praise you today for the love with which you love us, in which you have rooted us, and by which you are transforming us. There is no other god like you; there is no other God but you.
As I meditate through this Scripture and consider how high of a bar you have set for us, in terms of loving one another, I quickly run to you today for the promised resources of the gospel. There’s no other way I will even begin to love as an “imitator of God.” I need tons of grace for this calling.
Father, I don’t want to live today just with a theoretical or theological awareness of being your dearly loved child. Let it be deeply experiential and personal—very real, very encouraging, and very liberating.
All day long, let me hear you serenading me in the gospel. Indeed, help me hear you rejoicing over me with singing (as unreal of a thought as that is); let me taste your great delight in me (though my unbelief fights against such a notion); and quiet me with your love, for I have a restless, noisy heart. (Zeph. 3:14-17)
Lord Jesus, you are so kind, compassionate, and forgiving. I want the fragrant aroma your grace to permeate and encourage all my relationships. You’re not calling me to fix or change anybody. Free me for listening to others from my heart, being present in their stories, and offering the wisdom and hope of the gospel.
God the Holy Spirit—you who raised Jesus from the dead, give me the power I will need today to rid myself of any expressions of “bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice.” Convict me of the ways I grieve you, by my attitudes and actions; and free me to love and serve others with joy today. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ peerless and powerful name.
