Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

Love is a very weighty word in our world today. People use it in many different contexts, and it seems to have so many different definitions that it can make your head spin to try to understand it. But that is not true in Scripture. Ephesians gives us a clear example of what true love really is. It is sacrifice. It is offering up your own desires, to put others first to honor God.

The amazing part about this passage is that God isn’t asking us to do anything He hasn’t done first. We are to be imitators of God. Jesus did this first, and it cost Him everything! As children of God, who have the Holy Spirit inside of us, we can love people the exact same way that Jesus did. It won’t be easy. It will cost you something. But we are called to love in a sacrificial way.

Today, ask the Lord to show you how he wants you to love others sacrificially. Then, ask for the courage to follow through and honor God through it all. There is no greater testimony of God’s love and faithfulness than to model it for others the same way Jesus modeled it for us.

-Pastor Paul