Guest Post
by John Doyle
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in LOVE, as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2
DEARLY LOVED CHILDREN OF GOD
The Apostle Paul’s encouragement from this verse to all followers of Christ should grab our heart strings, tugging them tight, when referencing our relationship with the Heavenly Father, all made possible because of the Sacrificial gift of His Son. I don’t know about you, but it blesses me to know that I am the Father’s dearly loved child! Therefore, I should feel compelled to walk in the way of His Love in an effort to bring Glory to Him.
1. PLEASING AROMA OF OUR FAITH
Paul gives yet another stirring image to consider here when he said that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for us wafted up to the Heavens like a “sweet smelling aroma”. This sensation and reality is true for every Christ follower when we respond in obedience to His Word. Walking the Jesus way of *Love* whilst the people of the World watches. We get to bless and please our Heavenly Father with the aroma of our Faith and Sacrifice that is on display itself through us in this dark World.
2. STAYING IN STEP WITH GOD
So how do we walk Christ’s way of Love?
I think it’s a lot like the way a toddler tries desperately to keep up with his or her loving Father so that they can grab Daddy’s hand and stay in step with him. My daughter Kimmie in Heaven sometimes would run after me as a little girl and grab my hand and say I want to hold your hand Dad. Likewise, every time you and I, as Christ followers, follow after Jesus and stay in step with our Loving Father, we walk out God’s way of LOVE for the people around us and they will see it and will be impacted by it and then we can trust God that they too will live their lives and walk in “Newness of Life” in Christ (Romans 6:4).
Often that might mean being willing to lay down our comforts and preferences in our busy lives, so that Christ is honored by our devotion to Him and the precious family and friends He has given to us. This could also mean in these days forgiving and showing compassion to someone who may have purposely hurt us, doing so in an effort to follow Christ’s example of Forgiveness and Love toward us.
Whatever opportunity God gives and walks you through in your life today and in the days ahead, be sure to stay in step with Him, knowing it will not only bless those you help and perhaps give to, but it will please your Heavenly Father by Him watching from Heavens Glory His child *Walking out His LOVE*
As a Christian, Husband, Father and Grand Father I love helping my Loved ones and other people and seeing them grow closer in their relationship to God and at times despite the Lockdown being with other special friends who sacrificially give to others in their work and ministry, and watch them as they Walk out His LOVE, into the Lives of others.
So in these difficult days lets stay in step with the Lord which comes through Walking in His LOVE and allowing His Word and Holy Spirit to direct our paths, that will have eternal benefit to us and to those who through us also decide to Stay in Step with God by Walking in His LOVE.
Lets sing the song: *WALK IN LOVE*
“Light broke through, It was You
It began to rise inside of me
As you breathed in peace, Hallelujah
We were bought, we were bought with LOVE
So we walk, so we walk in LOVE
You’re calling us out of ourselves
To LOVE a world that’s broken down, We walk in LOVE
Wake up my soul, You’ve been made whole
It’s Christ in you who’s shining through
When you give LOVE away,
We will Love, we will Love, we will be Your Love
You will shine, you will shine, you will shine in us
We will Love, we will Love, we will walk in Love
We will Love, we will Love, we will be YOUR LOVE”
In the Love of the Lord Jesus,
John and Barbara
Thank you for sharing the devotional. The Lord bless you. John and Barbara.