As I choose to deliberately forgive the sources of all pain, I bring my soul again into remembrance of how You are love, Jesus; everything about you is centered on this one, main truth that God is love. I know that there are many lessons which would pretend to lead me in the way You’ve instructed me to walk in…but some do not really belong in my life.
The test of their trueness is simple — do they spring up out of love? Do their characteristics line up with the fruit of the Spirit, or with the description of agape that You’ve included in your Word, in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians? When I follow these lessons, do they result in me having flesh pruned off of me, that I may bear more of your spiritual fruits like peace, patience, and kindness?
This is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. Repentance is waking up. It is realizing, like Scrooge on Christmas morning, that all is not lost, and that God is willing that none should perish, and that redeeming the time is not a thing done in vain. We do not serve You in vain, Jesus. Your yoke is easy, and Your burden is light. Serving you is a love thing.