1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,635 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: Abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,355 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. 11 00:01:12,955 --> 00:01:18,595 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide meditation. I'm James Seawood. Christians ought 12 00:01:18,635 --> 00:01:22,035 Speaker 2: to love each other with the devoted, unselfish love of 13 00:01:22,155 --> 00:01:28,915 Speaker 2: brothers and sisters. As we begin today's meditation, think about 14 00:01:28,915 --> 00:01:33,075 Speaker 2: the people who have your loyalty forever, people who have 15 00:01:33,235 --> 00:01:36,395 Speaker 2: been in the trenches with you, people who have fought 16 00:01:36,395 --> 00:01:39,315 Speaker 2: by your side through some of the toughest experiences of 17 00:01:39,355 --> 00:01:44,795 Speaker 2: your life. Take a deep breath and picture one or 18 00:01:44,875 --> 00:01:52,675 Speaker 2: two of these people. The enduring commitment you feel toward 19 00:01:52,755 --> 00:01:56,955 Speaker 2: your siblings or your companions through trials is the kind 20 00:01:56,955 --> 00:01:59,155 Speaker 2: of love all of us in the church ought to 21 00:01:59,195 --> 00:02:04,515 Speaker 2: show one another. Paul writes in Romans twelve. Love one 22 00:02:04,515 --> 00:02:09,235 Speaker 2: another with brotherly affection, outdo one another in showing honor. 23 00:02:10,555 --> 00:02:13,075 Speaker 2: Showing real love to one another in the church is 24 00:02:13,195 --> 00:02:18,155 Speaker 2: part of what it means to worship God. If distractions 25 00:02:18,195 --> 00:02:21,915 Speaker 2: are vying for your attention, now ask them to wait. 26 00:02:23,275 --> 00:02:27,995 Speaker 2: Let your worries fall away, and in this moment picture 27 00:02:28,035 --> 00:02:32,875 Speaker 2: the kind of love. Paul calls you to brotherly sisterly affection. 28 00:02:37,395 --> 00:02:41,435 Speaker 2: Greater love has no one than this, that he laid 29 00:02:41,435 --> 00:02:46,515 Speaker 2: down his life for a friend. Christ is our greatest brother, 30 00:02:47,555 --> 00:02:51,755 Speaker 2: the one who shows us what love, loyalty, commitment, and 31 00:02:51,835 --> 00:02:57,475 Speaker 2: honor look like. Thank God for giving us Jesus the 32 00:02:57,515 --> 00:03:03,395 Speaker 2: perfect example of brotherly love, and the Holy Spirit, the 33 00:03:03,395 --> 00:03:12,195 Speaker 2: one who sustains our love. As difficult as it is. Sometimes, 34 00:03:13,395 --> 00:03:17,275 Speaker 2: Christians are called to bear with one another, to love 35 00:03:17,395 --> 00:03:28,875 Speaker 2: and honor each other even when we disagree. Pray with me, Jesus. 36 00:03:29,955 --> 00:03:33,995 Speaker 2: Sometimes it's hard for me to love others. I'm afraid 37 00:03:33,995 --> 00:03:36,675 Speaker 2: they won't love me in return, or I just think 38 00:03:36,755 --> 00:03:40,315 Speaker 2: it would be easier to go it alone. But I 39 00:03:40,395 --> 00:03:43,555 Speaker 2: know that you have loved me, and you have called 40 00:03:43,595 --> 00:03:48,115 Speaker 2: me to love your people. Please open me up to 41 00:03:48,275 --> 00:03:52,595 Speaker 2: relationships and give me a love that endures all things, 42 00:03:53,875 --> 00:03:59,515 Speaker 2: and your name. I pray. Amen. Take a deep breath, 43 00:04:00,435 --> 00:04:06,635 Speaker 2: and as you exhale, let your shoulders relax. Feel your 44 00:04:06,675 --> 00:04:12,395 Speaker 2: feet firmly planted. See yourself as a tree planted in 45 00:04:12,435 --> 00:04:16,675 Speaker 2: a grove of many trees. Together with the trees to 46 00:04:16,715 --> 00:04:21,275 Speaker 2: your left and right, you can provide shelter from storms, 47 00:04:22,475 --> 00:04:26,635 Speaker 2: fruit for many people to eat, oxygen, and clean air. 48 00:04:28,155 --> 00:04:31,035 Speaker 2: Your enduring commitment to this place and to each other 49 00:04:31,315 --> 00:04:36,715 Speaker 2: makes you stronger. Breathe feeling God connection to those who 50 00:04:36,755 --> 00:04:52,995 Speaker 2: work beside you. We have all sinned and fallen short 51 00:04:53,035 --> 00:04:56,475 Speaker 2: of the glory of God. We have not loved God. 52 00:04:57,635 --> 00:05:02,555 Speaker 2: We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Confess your 53 00:05:02,635 --> 00:05:17,475 Speaker 2: sins to God, humbly, repenting of the damage you've done. 54 00:05:21,235 --> 00:05:24,075 Speaker 2: Since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, 55 00:05:24,915 --> 00:05:27,635 Speaker 2: we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ 56 00:05:27,715 --> 00:05:32,515 Speaker 2: has done for us. Because of our faith. Christ has 57 00:05:32,515 --> 00:05:35,555 Speaker 2: brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where where 58 00:05:35,555 --> 00:05:40,115 Speaker 2: we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward 59 00:05:40,115 --> 00:05:48,115 Speaker 2: to sharing God's glory. Heavenly Father, thank you for sending 60 00:05:48,155 --> 00:05:50,435 Speaker 2: your son Jesus to show us what it means to 61 00:05:50,515 --> 00:05:55,235 Speaker 2: truly love each other. Please fill my heart with your love. 62 00:05:56,475 --> 00:05:58,755 Speaker 2: Help me to see those people who need to be 63 00:05:58,835 --> 00:06:02,675 Speaker 2: loved like a brother or a sister, and to draw 64 00:06:02,715 --> 00:06:07,475 Speaker 2: them into your family. Help me to be a faithful friend, 65 00:06:07,915 --> 00:06:11,195 Speaker 2: willing to sacrifice for the people I love, just as 66 00:06:11,275 --> 00:06:17,875 Speaker 2: Jesus did. It's in his name. I pray. Amen. Rest 67 00:06:17,955 --> 00:06:21,875 Speaker 2: here for as long as you like, meditating on the 68 00:06:21,915 --> 00:06:24,355 Speaker 2: love of God that enables us to love each other 69 00:06:24,595 --> 00:06:29,875 Speaker 2: like brothers and sisters. As you go go with gratitude 70 00:06:29,955 --> 00:06:32,235 Speaker 2: for the people whose love has been with you through 71 00:06:32,315 --> 00:06:37,355 Speaker 2: thick and thin. Until next time time, may you abide 72 00:06:37,795 --> 00:06:38,435 Speaker 2: in Christ.