SEARCHLIGHT
Will you be remembered for how you genuinely loved people?
SCRIPTURE
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1,2 NLT
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. Ephesians 5:1,2 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
A story is told about Dr. Karl Menninger who was a noted doctor and psychologist. He was trying to determine the cause of the ills of many of his patients. Menninger called his clinical staff together to develop a new plan for the clinic. The essence of the new plan would be to develop an atmosphere of creative love. All the patients were to be given large quantities of love. His staff was not to communicate or display any unloving attitude in the presence of the patients. All the nurses and doctors were required to have a loving attitude as they related to patients in various settings. At the end of six months, the time spent by patients in the institution was cut in half. Many very sick people had become emotionally healthy through love. [Source unknown]
Will you choose to LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE? What would happen in your personal world if you decided to love people the way God loves you? Taking God as your model for living a life filled with love will change your world. You can’t beat this way of living. It will make you a winner rather than a sinner. And all those around you will be significantly blessed.
What is the model you have chosen to pattern your life after? Maybe you have never thought about it. Like many people, you just live life the way you want. Or perhaps you have someone you admire. The way this person lives is an example for you. The Bible offers you the perfect model. In today’s Scripture focus, the Bible says to imitate God. Choose God to be your pattern for living. Copy God. Do as God does.
Many people think love is a concept to be pondered and lived out the way each person sees fit. In reality, the Bible declares that God is love. He does not tell you about love because He is the embodiment of love. God invites you to know Him so you will become a loving person. The Bible says, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.
Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love...We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” [1 John 4:7,8,16 NLT]
How does God love? He loves in 2 key ways. First, God loves by giving. He gives His Son, Jesus Christ. Christmas is the celebration of the divine connecting with humanity. God knew man needed to personally know Him, so God invaded earth. He sent Jesus, His Son, from heaven to earth to identify with you and me and the human race. This is comparable to sending someone from a place of perfection to imperfection or from a palace to a pit. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. [John 3:16] Without any doubt, God loves by giving.
Second, God loves by forgiving. He forgives you and me and the human race of our sin which separates everyone from His love. Long before people realized their sin kept them from personally knowing their Creator, God clearly showed His love by offering His Son as the sacrifice needed to pay for everyone’s sin. The Bible says, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:6,8] Without any doubt, the proof of God’s love is that He forgives us of our sin before we ask for it.
LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE. Follow God’s example. Love people by giving and forgiving. The Bible says, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” [Ephesians 4:32 NLT] Give love by expressing yourself with gentleness rather than harshness. Be friendly, generous, and considerate even with disagreeable people. Show compassion even to those who may be undeserving. Forgive others even before they ask for forgiveness. Forgive quickly and completely, just as God has done for you. Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice. Be the first to make amends. Seek reconciliation.
Living a life of love is living with the intention of not getting but always giving and forgiving. How would the circle of people who surround you be influenced by this pattern of living? The Bible says, “… Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.” [3 John 11 NLT]
SOMETHING TO DO
Dare to ask some friends how loving you are. Ask them how giving, forgiving, considerate, and respectful you are.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord God, I choose to live a life of love. Fill me with Your divine love so that I will become a person who is known for giving and forgiving. I take You, Lord Jesus Christ, not only as my Savior and Lord but also my example to live by. AMEN