And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV)
Dear Holy Spirit, While our modern culture likes to attribute this verse to romantic love and it’s so popular at weddings — 1 Corinthians 13 is a reminder about the relationships within the Christian community — how we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please help us to forge strong and loving connections in our Christian circles. Please protect us from the temptation to be divided over politics or other polarizing matters. When it comes to theology, help us to remember the wisdom of St. Augustine — “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” But help us to also walk the line and tread carefully knowing that such wisdom is not an invitation to accept sin. Help us to handle issues of sin in the Christian community with kindness and compassion. Thank You, Lord, for the church and the body of believers. Help us to live according to Your original plan and design for the church and not according to our own ideals and agendas. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
