Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Loving service to others is hard to sustain. It is even hard to keep making lunches or wiping noses for your kids and they’re your kids. How are you going to keep providing for the poor, fostering the orphan, and giving loving forgiveness to the mean man in the car behind you? Looking out on strangers with all their sin and indifference doesn’t seem to stir much passion.
So look in a different direction. We don’t serve because we are so fascinated with the poor. We study the Lord and imitate Him. We walk in love because we can’t stop thinking about Christ’s loving walk and life. We sacrifice and suffer because we follow a God who suffered for us. Turn your gaze upward and see a sacrifice and love so compelling, you’ll search the earth for opportunities to follow Jesus’ example.
Prayer prompt: Lord, help me to study the sacrifice of Jesus to see Your love and find motivation to serve.