Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:12-15

Dear God, what a great passage for all of us given the fact that a lot of our country will be with extended family for Thanksgiving! As for me, not only tomorrow, but every day, I need to clothe myself in tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I need to make allowances for others’ faults and remain aware of my own and their mercy towards me. I also need to be quick to forgive, even if the other person doesn’t request it.

I really do love the people I’m going to see the next few days. In fact, I adore them, and I adore those family members whom I won’t get to see this weekend. That doesn’t mean it will always be easy. But what better way to destroy my ambassadorship of you and your Kingdom than by not doing everything Paul admonishes me to do here? Humility and love are the rules of the day.

Father, I am your ambassador, as if you were making your appeal through me (2 Corinthians 5:20). Help me to live up to that mission for the sake of your glory and those that I love.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen