Ephesians 5:1-2
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
To love others the way Christ loved is to offer ourselves as a sacrifice of worship, in the way we live, work, think, speak and act. Then, it’s not about me, and what’s good for me, or how I can benefit or make myself comfortable is it? It becomes a giving thing, so that the thing I really desire fades into the background and pales in comparison to another’s needs or desires.
Do we live that? It’s a very difficult thing to live a sacrificial life and it’s way too easy to crawl off the altar of sacrifice and dedication to the Lord! Christ has set a huge example of love for us to measure ourselves up against. Although we can never attain His perfect measure, while living here on this earth, we are required to strive towards attaining unconditional love towards each and every one in our circles of influence. Forgiveness needs to become a part or an element of life as we extend grace to our offenders on a daily basis. Christ loved unconditionally and lived unselfishly before His Father and before others and He went all the way to the cross for us to prove it! His life lived, and His sacrifice of death depicts a fragrant offering to God and one that pleased His heavenly Father. Let’s be challenged to “excellence” in our living, striving to live holy lives, set apart from the call of the world! Let’s say with Paul, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1: 21 Let’s offer ourselves humbly before our Heavenly Father as we guard our motives, our actions, our speech and our attitudes, offering ourselves and our unconditional love as a fragrant offering, pleasing to our Heavenly Father, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord and our King.. He deserves our best!
Hope and Healing In Hard Places 