Lutheran Daily Devotional 26 May 2022 || Thursday Message By Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Read Lutheran Daily Devotional 26 May 2022
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Topic:Â Leaning on Jesus
Today’s Scripture: John 17:20-26
Lutheran Daily Devotional 26 May 2022 MESSAGE
What do you do with a fellow Christian you absolutely can’t stand?
I know that I am supposed to show love to them, but it’s so difficult! How in the world can I love that person? They do this or that terrible thing—they hold such awful opinions—their voice grates on me; their behavior is obnoxious. Christian or not, I can’t stand them. How can I be “one” with somebody who makes me want to run away the minute I lay eyes on them?
When this situation happens to me, I think back to Jesus’ prayer here when He is asking the Father to help us. Jesus knows perfectly well that living together in love is not our natural state. It doesn’t come easily to us. In fact, the only way it’s possible at all is if the Holy Spirit is living in us, living the life of Jesus through us. On our own power, we will get nowhere. We will have to lean on Him.
So when this happens to me, I ask the Holy Spirit to help me. And then I remember that—hard as it is to imagine—Jesus loves this person just as much as He loves me. This person is someone for whom He suffered and died—yes, and rose again. Jesus wants me to treat this person with love. It makes Him happy. And I love Jesus. I would do worse things than this for someone that I love!
It is really not an easy thing to do. But when Jesus Himself lives inside us, we can hand the steering wheel over to Him. We can say, “Lord, I can’t do it. Please love this person through me.” And He will. If He could handle suffering and dying and rising again, all to save the lot of us—every human being, obnoxious as we are—He can certainly help us learn to care for one another. He still does miracles!
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, You have loved me. Now please love others through me, including the ones that are so hard for me. Amen.
Lutheran Daily Devotional 26 May 2022 was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you have someone you have trouble loving? Don’t name names!
How has God helped you to deal with that person?
When have you felt unlovable and God used someone else to care for you?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 17, 19 John 9:24-41
Lutheran Daily Devotional 26 May 2022. Lutheran Hour Ministries is a trusted resource in global media that equips and engages a vibrant volunteer base to passionately proclaim the Gospel to more than 150 million people worldwide each week. Lutheran Daily Devotional 26 May 2022
