Daily Verse: 2 John 1:6

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

 

 

If we truly love someone, we tend to act and speak in ways that are pleasing to this person. We say things that bring a smile to their face, we act in ways that make them feel good, and we do whatever we can to show them that they are loved. So does the same apply with God? If we truly love God, do we tirelessly pursue ways to please him? Or do we rest on this sort of “get out of jail free card” of saved by grace through faith alone and continue along status quo as usual? Imagine if we professed our love for one single person…but when we weren’t with that one person, we acted in ways that brought that love into question. The relationship would fall apart. The person that we claimed was our single love would get wind of our dysfunctional behavior and leave the scene. Do we do the same with God? Do we claim obedience to him when it is convenient and then choose another path when things get difficult? If we truly love God, then we will seek complete submission to his commands. But we do not submit to somehow earn salvation or purchase our way into heaven. That’s already been accomplished through Christ (and plus we are completely incapable of paying that price).  Rather we seek to be obedient because we have a deep desire to show God that we love him. And as it states in the text above, God’s command is that we walk in love. God’s command is that we show love in our lives…love like Christ showed when we walked this earth. Walking in love means not giving into the anger that leads us to speak and act sinfully. Walking in love means putting the needs of another above our own. Walking in love means truly forgiving someone when they do something against us. Walking in love means resisting the temptation to slander another. Walking in love means giving money from our pockets to another that is in need without questioning whether they are really in need. Walking in love means sacrificing our time and energy to help a someone in need. I am convinced that God places an incredible number of opportunities to walk in love in our daily lives. All we have to do is keep our eyes, ears, and minds open to the opportunities. And when they are placed before us, may we have the courage to jump in with both feet and be the hands of feet of our Lord. To God be the glory!