Walk in Love

In the next few weeks, I’ll be coming up on the eight year anniversary of my dad’s eternal homecoming.  I still miss him deeply and look forward to our heavenly reunion.  My dad left such a lasting impression on me because he loved me as a dear son.  As our relationship matured over time, I noticed some things.  Typically, when I was around him, I wanted to walk in ways that were pleasing and honorable to him.  But when we were apart there were plenty of times when I lived foolishly - especially when he was out of sight and out of mind.  Sometimes my foolish choices would create a wedge in our relationship whether it was due to my shame or selfish ambition or his greater expectations of a father for his son.  Either way, his presence was an accountability and means of grace that God used to add to my life.

In the text this week, Paul starts with a focus on love between the Heavenly Father and His children.  I believe we each need to enter into this text with that same focus on the Father’s love for us.  We need to remember He loves us too much to leave us in our sin, so he continuously calls us out of it.  Even more, He calls us to walk with Him and in His love because He knows that we are at our best when we are aware of His enduring presence and steadfast love for us as His children. 

It's the love of God shown through Christ Jesus that sets us free from our idols so we can truly live with Him and by His Spirit.  May we feel the amazing love of our Heavenly Father for us today.  Let us pray continually for the Spirit of God to expose our idols and call us into the light of Christ.  May the Word of God be the mirror by which we see ourselves from now on.  And may we as a church be transformed by the gracious presence and love demonstrated to us through Jesus!

The lyrics of the song “Who I Am” by Ben Fuller deeply encouraged me as I studied this week’s text and I suggest you give it a listen too. 

Grateful and hopeful in Christ,   

Jon