Dear Saints,
Good morning.
Ephesians 5:1, 2
Be ye therefore followers (imitators) of God as dear (beloved) children;
And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering
And a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
God is love. He is so loving that He gives us an example of what it means to follow or imitate Him.
God describes two characteristics of the walk of love that must be important to Him. The walk, the love lifestyle of Christ was that He loved us also like God loves us.
The proof of this is that He has given Himself for us. Christ went above and beyond (more than enough) in giving Himself as an offering (a gift) and a sacrifice to God for us. He was willing and obedient even unto death. (Love is a giving, so it always costs something ofus).
The result is that Jesus Christ paid God for our redemption. His offering and sacrifice was a sweet odor to God. It is the same for us when we imitate God in this manner to display our love as an offering and a sacrifice.
In light of this, living love as an offering and a sacrifice, let us take another look at the characters in the record of the certain Samaritan in Luke 10. The context shows us that when we love God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind we will put ourselves in a position to love our neighbor as ourself.
There are four people in this parable -- a certain man, a certain Samaritan, a certain priest, and a Levite. Which one would you say imitated God by giving himself as an offering and a sacrifice?
The only one that was willing to love was the certain Samaritan who went above and beyond to care for the certain man who fell among thieves and was left for dead. Is God’s Word talking to any of us who are reading this record? Can we see ourselves in the mirror of God’s Word?
How about at the department store or in the checkout lane at Wal-Mart? Perhaps the customer in front of you has taken more groceries than they have money to purchase.
Are you willing to help? If you put yourself in a position to love, you will see the opportunities to give as an offering and a sacrifice. Our heavenly Father will get the glory, and you will earn your reward.
With much love and blessings,
Ray Weidenhamer