Together in Peace

So all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble. – (1 Peter 3:8, ERV) 

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. – (1 Peter 3:8, MSG) 

And now this word to all of you: You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. – (1 Peter 3:8, TLB) 

If only the world would follow this directive… The more we seek to understand one another, the greater our love grows for each other. This requires compassion, sympathy, humility, and love. A tender heart with the intent to love, makes friends feel like family, and brings peace to wherever they are present. Being agreeable in this way does not mean that we agree nor align with everything that those around us think or believe, but it does mean that we are willing to listen and learn so that we have compassion to for those who see the world differently than we do. Our charge is not to argue, belittle nor disavow differences, but rather to seek to understand, and above all, love. May we seek the Lord for wisdom and strength, so that we may live together in peace. Show us, Lord, how to be agreeable, sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble towards one another. 

If we all followed, 

What God has in mind; 

We’d all be humble, 

And choose to be kind. 

The love God gives, 

Would be what is seen; 

True understanding, 

Through pure listening. 

Without agenda, 

But rather to learn; 

So compassion’s shown, 

And in love, we’d turn. 

Turn to each other, 

With love and with grace; 

Helping our neighbors, 

As peace fills this place. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You show us and tell us what it is to love like You. Forgive us for the horrible ways that we react toward one another, rather than seeking to understand. Show us how to listen, learn, and love like You. Lead us to love those around us in ways that create community and safety and peace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we rely on You to be agreeable, sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. – Colossians 3:14

Learning to Love as We Are Loved

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” – (Matthew 22:37-40, MSG)

Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” – (Matthew 22:37-40, NLT)

 

We are called to love God and love people with our whole being. If we invest our hearts and lives into loving well, then we are being obedient to that which God has commanded. Every directive that God gives us to walk upon the path that He has placed before us, is rooted and established in love. Every step is intentionally tied to loving God or loving people. The amazing thing is, if we are loving God, we cannot help but love people as well. The more we invest our hearts in Him, the more we begin to see people through His lens of love. Compassion rises within us, and we are drawn to do good. May we each invest all that we are into the pursuit of knowing and loving God, so that we can go forth and love people as we have been called to love.

 

May we choose to love,

with all that we are;

through passion and prayer,

seek the Morning Star.

For He is our God,

all love comes from Him;

the more we invest,

the more love comes in.

As our hearts are filled,

we are armed to go;

to love others well,

so God’s truth may show.

May we each be light,

obey God’s commands;

love Him and people,

so peace and truth stand. 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good and loving, and that through Your great love, You charge us to do likewise. Thank You that You command us to love You and others with all that we are, but You don’t expect us to do this on our own. Thank You that You empower and equip our hearts to love like You love each of us. Forgive us for not loving well, or for neglecting to invest our hearts in time with You or the things that You call us to do. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would invest all of our passion, prayer and intellect into loving You and opening our hearts to hear how You would have us love those around us. Show us how to love others as You so perfectly love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be exalted O God, as we learn how to love You and love others with all that we are. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. – Genesis 21:6