EPHESIANS 5:1-2 – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Unless one is a newborn or suffers a physical handicap, walking is normal for a human being. It is natural, expected, and is necessary to accomplish many functions and responsibilities in life. In regards to the Christian life, the word “walk” is used many times to describe living out the commands and expectations God has for His children “walking” in this world. In the Apostle Paul’s letters, he refers to the Christian life as a walk at least eighteen times. One of those references is today’s scripture and the walk of love as a follower of Christ. What would such a walk look like in the daily life of a believer?

First, the walk of love demands a close walk with Him who is love; the Lord Jesus. The reasons this is so critical are two-fold. We don’t have the resources in ourselves to love as commanded because the walk of love is a walk in the love of God, not our sinful self-love. The other reason is God, Himself, sets the standard for evaluating our walk of love. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). He does not leave us to our own interpretation of how to walk in love. He is the model. The only model, the only example, and to walk in love as He loves necessitates a close walk with Him who is love.

Another quality in the walk of love is a daily and conscious act of denying oneself. Unless there is the ongoing application of our death with Christ, a death to the power of sin in us, we cannot walk in love. There is too much selfishness in us, too much pride ruling us, and too much obsession with ourselves that prevents the Biblical walk of love. Our worst spiritual foe is ourselves and this individual must be crucified daily by faith which is an aggressive living out of the words of the Apostle Paul – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me(Galatians 2:20).

Finally, the walk of love defining the Christian life requires putting the interests of Christ and others ahead of our own. This is similar to the last paragraph but with one exception. As what we just defined is a denying of ourselves must be followed with a conscious effort of replacing self-interests with the interests of Christ and others with the actions verifying this lifestyle. Again from the Apostle Paul-Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4) and For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ(Philippians 2:20-21).Remember, the Christian life is not just denying ourselves. It includes filling that void with serving others in the walk of love.

Walking is normal for all human beings. For Christians, walking in love is also to be normal. May the Lord help us walk such a walk and show the world the God who is love.

PRAYER: “Father, protect me from a mere knowledge of Your command to ‘walk in love’ and not actually walk in love.”
QUOTE: “Biblical love is not a feeling but contains emotions. It is always validated by deeds and service.”

Because of Him,
Pastor Jim