Our identity in heaven leads to action on earth. We are instructed to walk a certain way. Turn with me to Eph. 5:1-2. How then are we to live?
“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.”
WALK-IN LOVE
We are instructed here to walk as a child of a King. Think of it…you are called a child of God. Have you ever noticed how much kids like to mimic their parents? How did they want to be just like them? Fascinatingly, they pick up on their mannerisms. Their laugh. Sense of humor. Little things that we do are not necessarily taught, but rather they are caught from spending an enormous amount of time together. Numerous times, I’ve heard other people comment to my children, “Why, you must be an Allen kid.”
We are being reminded here that no matter who we are or what we do…our lives have a voice. Whether you want it to or not…your life is saying something. It is reflecting something. And giving glory to someone. Unfortunately, it may not be God.
Right off the bat…Paul is telling us to “Walk as children of light. Be image-bearers. Furthermore, point others to Jesus.”
YOU ARE BELOVED
Now, why would we want our walk to imitate God? Because we are beloved. Notice it. He calls us “beloved children.” As a result, we walk in love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Above all, I️ think this is our biggest issue. Our biggest hang-up. We don’t realize how much we are loved. We don’t get it, see it, realize, know it, or believe it.
God loves you! Most importantly, let that truth sink in. I know we don’t believe it. I struggle with believing it too. If God loves me so much why do my kids talk back? Why is there COVID-19? In comparison to others, why do I hate my job? Why does it feel like my husband doesn’t love me anymore? I️ thought I’d be married by now. Why do I battle with my weight? Life doesn’t seem fair. Why am I sick and fighting this incurable disease? Lord, why?
LOVE IS COSTLY
But then He tells us why…because He suffered too. He is a suffering Savior. Walk-in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. To clarify, God is revealing to us a deeper meaning of the word love. A sacrificial love that will die for you. Give up titles. Leave the 99 to pursue after you. Chase you down. Till you are found.
And so, we do it because Jesus did it for us.
We get up in the morning because we don’t live with earthly eyes. Instead, we live with our eyes fixed on eternity.
We do it because we know that God has a greater plan.
And your life. Every life reading this today…has a purpose. Your story is part of a bigger story that I cannot wait to hear when I reach eternity. I want to hear how God is working all the pieces of our lives together. Master Weaver. So that in the end, He is the One glorified.
Right now, all we see is the backside of the tapestry. The side with all the knots and twists and turns. But when we reach eternity…we will see that God was “working all things together for our good” (Rom. 8:28). He will make sense of it all. He will reveal to us His greater purpose. It will be worth the wait and the fight.
So join me today, let’s get to walking in the light.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, This was such an encouraging word today. Thank you for sending Jesus, your Son, to show us how to love and walk in the light. Help us make wise use of our time. Amen.