Listen

Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart. Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.

If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people.

Romans 12:16-18

Think

What does it mean to love like Jesus? A colleague of mine recently described Jesus as the ultimately culturally-competent person, because he always entered with love. The full humanity of those he encountered was much more important than the labels that the social order had placed upon them. I strive to love like Jesus and am challenged every day by both small and large disagreements with the people around me. I have seen how disagreements can escalate into hate and violence, and when I hear about some of the terrible things that are happening in our world today, I get angry and discouraged.

Maybe it’s not our role to solve every problem. Maybe we just need to model what it means to “live at peace with all people” in our daily lives. Maybe practicing the way of love in small ways every day will strengthen our ability to practice the way of love in every way.

How will you strive to love like Jesus?

Heidi J. Kim

Pray

Good and Gracious God, you know my heart when I am angry and discouraged, and you know my heart when I have the strength to love. Help me to love, and to the best of my ability, to live at peace with all people. Amen.

Go

Let peace remind me to enter with love.

Let love remind me to make space for God.

May God’s grace help me to see and be seen!