Love

Love

Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, because that sacrifice was like sweet perfume to him.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Two of my former piano students, Corrie and Sydney, are sisters. They look alike, and they talk alike. They are darling and polite; they both have gentle southern accents and sweet dispositions. Why? They are imitators of their parents, both in the way they dress and the way they act.

The way we learn to love is by imitating Christ. How does he love? When Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for sinners—for us—he brought great joy to the heart of God. That’s who we should imitate, and that’s how we should love—sacrificially. It’s not hard to love a person who treats us well or a person we respect. But what about the opposite? Jesus wasn’t treated well by mankind—we crucified him. And how much respect could he have felt toward people who denied him and abandoned him? But he still loved mankind so much that he died for us!

So what does sacrificial love look like? It involves forfeiting something we value highly for the sake of someone we believe to have a greater value or claim—God and his kingdom. We may choose to forfeit a dream, a comfort, a convenience, or some of our time and money because we want to show God’s love to another, bringing great joy to the heart of God. We imitate God through a life of giving and serving. As moms, our giving and serving begins in our home.

Father,

Your example would be impossible for us to follow if you hadn’t also promised us your presence and your strength in our lives. May we look to you daily, so our children will see your love in us. Amen.