Day 19: Follow in Love

Come Before Him in Worship: Today we celebrate that the mystery of God has been revealed in Christ Jesus. The whole of the earth groaned for an answer, a savior–and the Father sent the Son. Let your heart be glad in the eternal saving of God. He also saved us by showing us how to live and teaching us about the Father. We love Him, in return, with adoration and imitation. We regard Him as worthy to be praised and worthy to be followed. Whisper to Him sweetly today, “I look to your example Jesus. This day, and the many to come, you are worthy of my following.”

“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.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Devotion: We have already pondered Jesus’ great love for us in these weeks, a love so extravagant that He would leave heaven to come to earth to reconcile us to the Father through His perfect sacrifice and death on a cross. But consider for a moment how Jesus loved the disciples and the other people He came into contact with while on earth. He patiently taught them, forgave them, and in great humility, served them. He went out of His way to heal, to comfort, to speak life to the least, the lost and the left out. He lived and acted out the love that was in God’s heart. And then he commanded us to do likewise! He tells us in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” In John 13:34-35, Jesus calls this a “new commandment” and tells us that our obedience to it will prove to the world that we are, in fact, His disciples. Just as Jesus showed God’s love to us, we must show His love to the world.

But, once again, this love is not something we can generate on our own. It is a love that the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts as we abide in Christ. (Romans 5:5) It is Jesus’ love in us that makes us able to love like Him. Let’s trust that, as we abide in Him and purpose in our hearts to live sacrificially, always seeking to bless others, to speak gently and kindly, to be hard to offend (instead of easy) and seek others’ honor above our own, that He will give us the grace and power to love more and more like He loves!

Respond in Prayer: Use me as Your vessel today Spirit of God. I want to follow Your words and Your ways, would You lead me in this? Christ in me, the hope of glory–this is the hope that the world cries out for. Lead me in love today. Lead me in GREAT love today. Blow out the capacities of my kindness and tune my soul to sing your grace over every life I come in contact with today. All praise to You!