His Love

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
Ephesians 5:1,2

Isn't that beautiful?

Think of a little boy who tries to be just like his daddy, or a little girl who attempts to imitate her mommy.   The child may not be doing a very good job, but isn't is a sweet thing to see, as a parent?  Also, as the child gets older, he or she often does become very much like their parent!  (You become like the one you most admire and spend time with).

I want to love the way Jesus loved...  Don't you?  His love is very special, so unlike the superficial love that the most of the world offers.  

Humans will (for the most part) only extend love based upon what they can get from you-- they are selfish.  In contrast, Jesus loves everyone without expecting anything in return.  He even loves the people who curse His holy Name and are on their way to hell... because His love is unconditional.  He loved those people enough to die for them.  (Can you do that?  I know I would struggle to love, let alone die for, someone who hated me!)

God the Father saw that love... the perfect, sacrificial love of Jesus, and it pleased Him.  It was like a beautiful aroma to Him.

I want to love like that! Or at least try to!

Here are 10 aspects of God's love.  (examples from Exodus chapter 20)

1. love is LOYAL "You shall have no other gods before Me" (vs.3)
2. love is FAITHFUL "You shall not make for yourself a carved image" (vs.4)
3. love is REVERENT "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" (vs.7)
4. love is INTIMATE "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (vs.8)
5. love is RESPECTFUL "Honor your father and your mother" (vs.12)
6. love is HARMLESS "You shall not murder" (vs.13)
7. love is PURE "You shall not commit adultery" (vs.14)
8. love is UNSELFISH "You shall not steal" (vs.15)
9. love is TRUTHFUL "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (vs.16)
10. love is CONTENT "You shall not covet... anything that is your neighbor's" (vs.17)

It may be hard to love this way all the time, but if we surrender ourselves to the control of our loving (and forgiving) Father and let Him chip away at the parts of us which are faulty, over time, we are molded more and more into His perfect image. It may seem like an overwhelming sacrifice, but at the same time, it also is like casting off a huge burden... just knowing that God can do anything.

"You shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect."  Matthew 5:48

"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."  Ephesians 3:16