6^th August

“Imitate God, therefore in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”

Ephesians 5:1-2

What is true love? Going the extra mile? Doing something you don’t want to do to make someone else happy? Or is it just being kind to everyone? Well you could answer all of the above yet the greatest example of love was Christ’s sacrifice for us.

Sacrificial love

Paul tells us in his wonderful writings, here in Ephesians, that Jesus offered Himself up as a sacrifice for us. That means that He surrendered every Heavenly privilege to come down to this earth as a servant. He gave Himself completely for our sakes. He gave Himself 100%. Even when we didn’t deserve it, He gave Himself up for us. Sacrificial love means loving without thinking about your own privileges, rights or what you can get out of it in return.

Un-conditional love

Jesus’ unconditional love meant that He loved us, even when we were sinners. In other words, He loves us no matter what we do, not expecting anything in return and without limit. His love flows from a bottomless pit. There is no end. If we are to love with that same love, then we need to understand God’s love for us and love with that same love. If we try and love in our strength, it will be conditional but when we love with Jesus’ love, we just keep on giving love. Jesus didn’t stop giving love even when He was being beaten or mocked. He just kept loving. That is our marker!

1 John 4: 12 tells us that although no-one has seen God face to face, He can be revealed through the love that is expressed in our lives. In fact it says that if God live in us, then the FULL expression of His love can be seen through us. That is powerful. Jesus is our standard. Let His full love be expressed through you.