Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
What of Today’s Verse…
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If we are to sincerely flatter God by being like him, imitation may be the most costly form of flattery as well. You see, love for God is never something that occurs just in our minds or our hearts. Love is something we do for another — it is action. John said that we must love with more than our talk; we must show our love through our deeds. (1 John 3:18) This kind of genuine love means that we give ourselves up — what we want, our rights, our desires — to honour God and serve others. This is a kind of love that can change the world, or a marriage, or a family. This is the kind of love that God has given to us! Now let us imitate our Father in the way we love.
Let us Pray:
Abba Father, I will never fully understand how you could love me so much that you would allow your son to die for me, as my sacrifice. Please help me love others sacrificially. I know the power to do this is not within me, so please pour your love into my heart so that I may share that love with others. Through Jesus, my brother and my sacrifice, I pray. Amen.
Words of Wisdom
Pray for Others
I bless others in my thoughts and prayers.
Is someone I love struggling with a personal matter? If so, I take time to listen to him or her. Does someone I know need a helping hand? If so, I take action to help that person through a difficult time.
I not only support people in my life through my actions, but also in my prayers. Prayer is a direct channel to God, an open line to the love, abundance, wisdom, and guidance of God.
As I pray for others, I send them thoughts of peace and expect answered prayer. I see them guided through their challenges, prospered in their finances, healthy and well. Each moment I spend in prayer opens me to the goodness of God, the one source of all life, love, and strength.
“Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself.” –Matthew 19:19
