Day Thirty
Ephesians 5:1-2
As God's dear children, then, take him as your pattern, and follow Christ by loving as he loved you, giving himself up for us as an offering and a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God.
Reflection
"Love one another as I have loved you," Jesus said. Love is at the heart of following Jesus. Without love, we are nothing, have nothing and can do nothing. With love we can do all things in Christ who strengthens us. Jesus' love is sacrificial: He gave Himself for others: the poor, the sick, the blind, the lame, the lepers, the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the sinners, all of the world including you and me: He gave Himself on the cross out of love for you and me and the whole world. There has been no greater love in the world than this nor will there ever be a greater act of love
We are to follow Jesus and lay down our lives for God and one another and for the world. We are called to live as God's children in word and deed, not just in word only. We are to sacrifice our pride, our will and our own personal agenda for our lives. "Thy will be done" should be our motto for life. God is our pattern: unless we model ourselves after this pattern, our lives will be lacking in purpose and not bearing fruit for the kingdom of God.
Prayer
Jesus, I come before you today in awe of your amazing sacrificial love. Out of obedience to the Father, you laid down your life for me, a poor sinner, to redeem me and grant me the gift of eternal salvation. Help me always to love you, no matter what trials or temptations I must go through in this life.
Amen.
