Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 19, 2020
O Lord, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle? Who shall live in Your holy mountain? He who walks blamelessly, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart, who does not deceive with his tongue, neither does evil to his neighbor; and does not find fault with those nearest him. Psalm 15:1-3 (OSB)
It is often easiest to love the people we know the least. The more formal or infrequent the interaction, the easier it is to only see the “presentable” parts of another person. As such, we can easily begin to think this is the full expression of who they are: always patient, always joyful, always optimistic. Yet if every relationship were to stay at the level of polite niceties, they might lack conflict or disagreement, but they would also lack intimacy and depth.
Real relationships require great risk, yet also offer great reward. It is incredibly risky to invite someone to see the parts of our lives that we are not proud of, the moments that would never in a million years find their way onto a social media post! However, as much as we may wish it were not the case, our highly curated selves that we present to the world are never the truest pictures of who we are. The invitation before us, then, is to move out of the comfort and safety of digital and social superficiality and to instead discover the reward of truly being known.
Though the psalmist knew nothing of corporate parties or Instagram, they certainly knew the ease of anonymous relationships, as well as the challenge of living life in close proximity with others. And in their wisdom, they highlight one particular temptation to this way of life: being the most critical of those we love and know the best. Are you able, in their words, to “not find fault with those nearest you?”
When someone invites you into risky relationship, they are choosing to be vulnerable and let their defenses down. So whether it is a lover, a child, or a dear friend, when you accept this vulnerability you also welcome their brokenness. You must choose to say, time and time again, “This is a safe place in which your brokenness will not be exploited or used to shame you, but will be a place for it to be healed and made whole.” Similarly, can you not only receive this vulnerability but offer it in return? Will you risk in your relationships in order to encounter the unspeakable reward of being known and loved?
“(Love) does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5).
Prayer
Father, teach us how to love others, that through them we may love you faithfully and fully, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Where can you choose to risk vulnerability in your relationships in order to experience the reward of being truly known?
Related Reading
John 13:34-35; 2 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:16
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