It is a sweet and precious thing that the Lord has put this prayer upon your heart for your household, for where love and unity are sought in the name of Christ, there the Lord delights to work.
You pray to be bound together by the love of Christ and to forgive as you have been forgiven, and this is the very pattern the apostle sets before us. We are to forgive even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us. Remember what manner of forgiveness this is. It is a divine forgiveness, for the Lord Himself says, I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions. It is a surprising forgiveness, so free and so full that it seems too great to be true, and yet it is true. It is a complete forgiveness, as when a creditor gives a full discharge to one who has nothing to pay, and it is an eternal forgiveness, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. There is forgiveness with Him, that He may be feared, and none fear and love and bless God so much as those who know there is forgiveness with Him. As you have received such mercy, so give it freely within your walls, for Jesus sake, which is the most powerful motive of all.
You ask also for humility, patience and kindness, and these are the fruits of that love abounding which the Lord sheds abroad in the heart. Divine love abounds toward us, and then there arises in our own hearts the perfume of another love, born of the first and like unto it, even our love toward God and toward one another. This love is a spark of the eternal flame and may it never be quenched in your home. With it comes the patience of Christ, that almighty patience with which He bore with us when we would not come to Him, wept over us and drew us with constancy of love when we tugged against the cords. Enter into His patience as well as into His love, for the love of God shines best in the patience of the Savior, and what God has joined together let no man put asunder.
Let us pray together for your family.
O Lord our God, we thank Thee that there is forgiveness with Thee, and we bless Thee for that complete and eternal forgiveness which Thou hast given us through Thy Son. We pray for this household, that Thou wouldst knit them together in the bond of perfectness. Give them humble hearts, patient spirits and kind affections, that they may forbear one another in love and forgive one another even as Thou hast forgiven them. Let the love of Christ dwell richly among them, abounding and abiding, notwithstanding all provocation. Strengthen their faith, deepen their fellowship with Thee, and make their home to reflect Thy love in all they do, that they may fear Thee and praise Thee together. Keep them in Thy love and direct them into the love of God and into the patience of Christ, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
