Listen:
“…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV)
Reflect:
The “width and length and height and depth” of Christ’s love is for us to grasp! Wow, what a gift Lord! His love will permeate our being when we allow it, it is always available, it is helpful for handling conflict when we are rooted and established in it! It was this love for me, for all of us that allowed Jesus to endure on the cross such pain and suffering caused by my sin, the sin of the world.
Talk about conflict—He was falsely accused, spit upon, called blasphemer, beaten beyond recognition, abandoned by many of His closest friends and was completely innocent– still He endured it all because He loved unashamedly. “Like a rose, trampled on the ground, He took the fall, and thought of me above all”…lyrics that remind me that even in the midst of conflict we can, we must love, because God wants us to be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God-that’s really full!
When I am hurt by others, when I see others hurt by me what does love do in me, through me? Is love my first response? What does love look like in the midst of conflict? God’s Word describes it best:
” Love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, rude, self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Prayer of Response:
“Thank You Lord for loving me first, for showing me how to love. Forgive me Lord for the many times I fall so short of loving well especially during conflict. Help me to more quickly invite You into my conflicts and transform my heart to love like you do. Amen.”
—Submitted by Terri La Brie
(Terri lives in Southern California with her husband Joe and is committed to allowing Jesus to transform her old ways of avoiding, fearing, and/or running from conflict into facing it with Him in love! Prayers appreciated!)
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