Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1,2
I had an aunt who has now passed on, that truly lived this verse. Whenever I read it, I think of her. Aunt Bertha’s life was a portrait of God’s love. She walked and talked love every day of her life. She taught on walking in love every chance she got. I fully believe it was her calling to share, teach and live God’s love to others; she did it so well.
It saddens my heart when I see and hear Christians, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, not loving one another but instead hurting each other in attitude, word or deed. Jesus told his disciples in John 13:34, 35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” How did Jesus say people would know we were his disciples? By how often we go to church? By how much money we give? By serving in many different areas of church? All these things are great, biblical and serve a purpose, but the way everyone knows we belong to Jesus is when we love each other.
When Paul wrote that we are to “walk in love,” he meant for it to be a lifestyle, a way of life, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10). God gave us all strengths, and we all have weaknesses. We are to encourage one another and lift each other up. (Hebrews 10:24, 1 Thessalonians 5:11) We may not all get along like best friends. Some personalities just don’t mesh. That’s OK. There were even some disciples who didn’t quite get along all the time. However, we still have to love each other.
How do we do that? By reading God’s word and asking the Holy Spirit to help us live it out. 1 Corinthians 13 is a wonderful place to start. It tells us what love is and what it is not:
If
I speak in the tongues
of
men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong
or a clanging cymbal.
If
I have the gift of prophecy
and
can fathom all mysteries
and
all knowledge,
and
if I have a faith
that
can move mountains,but do not have love, I am nothing.
If
I give all I possess to the poor
and
give over my body to hardship that I may boast,
but
do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient,
love
is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It
does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered,
it
keeps no record of wrongs.
Love
does not delight in evil
but
rejoices with the truth.
It
always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love
never fails.
And
now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But
the greatest of these is love.
Therefore
if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any
comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,
if
any tenderness and compassion,
then
make my joy complete
by
being like-minded,
having
the same love, being one
in
spirit and of one mind.
Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves,
not
looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the
others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset
as Christ Jesus…