As I sat in church last Sunday, listening to the preacher, he reminded me how important it is to live a life of love. Instantly, I thought of my life verse, “to live a life of love.” This morning, as I sat, reading my Jesus Calling devotion, it took me to Ephesians 5, which again encourages us on how we are to live.
Ephesians 5:1-2 reads, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love; just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
But how do we live this life of love the Bible talks about?
Well, as I often often do, I Googled it.
I was amazed at what I read.
Volunteering, Donating resources, Being kind, Rising above judgment, Listening, and Forgiveness. “
“How to live a life of love”
In order to live a life of love, we must embrace the Spirit living within us. That Spirit gives us our power.
However, life distracts us, pulling us down into the depths of reality. Current circumstances leave little room for love, peace or even joy. Maybe we don’t feel like loving or like being loved. But God’s Word tells us how to get there and why we should.
We have been created for more. When we begin living our lives from a place of love, we can do the work God created us to do. We can do the things Jesus did, all of the things!
In Luke, Jesus tells us Himself,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[
Jesus was quoting Isaiah 61, but He applied these same verses to His own life. And that is exactly how He lived. He was transforming other people’s lives, healing them, setting them free and glorifying God along the way.
#livelove
Later in John 4:12-14, Jesus tells us, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Jesus really did show us the way. He lived a life of love, becoming a mirror of God’s love here on earth. Jesus shows us how to live. It is through Jesus’ example and the power of the Holy Spirit living within us that we can share God’s love with the world around us.
Do you believe in Jesus? And, do you believe God’s Word to be true?
If we can answer yes to these two questions, then why are we not doing the greater things Jesus talks about?
It is a choice. We choose to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, died on the cross and rose again. We choose to believe that same Spirit now lives and breathes within us. And, we choose to live a life of love and share God’s love with everyone around.
Be imitators of God…
When we make that choice, we become imitators of God. We can do the same things Jesus did. Even greater things. In turn, we mirror God’s love to the world, just like Jesus did.
So, I challenge you today, be who God created you to be! Live that life of love. Because the world needs us! The world needs God and the power of His transforming love.
Let us pray;
God of all goodness and mercy, thank you for your love. Thank you for your Son who shows us the way. Forgive us when we do not live from a place of love. Help us to be the people you have created us to be so we can mirror your love to the world. In Jesus name, Amen.
P.S. Leave me a comment below. Tell me how you intend to live a life of love. What’s one thing you can do today? Forward this message to a friend that might need a little love and encouragement today. Post on Facebook and tag me in it. And remember, God loves YOU!
P.S.S. I will be on vacation next week and unable to post our next offering. I will miss you greatly but I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. -M
One thought on “How to live a life of love”
If we would only live a life of love, what a difference it would make. Love you. Very good!