by Christine Sine
As we end this series on Read Life Differently, I wanted to do so with this prayer which I wrote about 5 years ago. It is a good reminder that to move forward into God’s purposes we need grow together across our differences, and the only way that is possible is with love.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
Let us grow together
and build up the body of Christ.
Let us accept the gift of Jesus
Revealed in ourselves, in others and in our world.
Allow him to nourish
not soul alone
But body and spirit and community.
Let us invite him into our deepest being
Open ourselves to his equipping
Freely sharing what we receive.
Let our gifts ripple outwards
Shared with great love and mercy and generosity.
Let them lead us to a life
Worthy of the purpose
To which we are called
To love God and our neighbor as ourselves.
Grow, be equipped, give generously
Build up the body of Christ.
(Christine Sine August 2015)