January 15, 2009

Imitate God Walk in Love

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV)

To walk in love means to walk sacrificially. That might mean saying things to people that they wish not to hear. It could mean not saying something depending on the circumstances.

This is where discernment comes into play. Love evaluates the situation and then decides if what is about to be said will profit the hearer. Too often, we speak from a righteous position with ill motives. Instead of love, pride controls us.

Jesus was sometimes more forceful with people. The Pharisees received His harsher indictments because they were full of hypocrisy, and should have been leading the people instead of stealing from them and laying burdens upon them. At other times, He was very soft albeit truthful.

The point is love does what is needful without regard for self. Jesus deals with each of us, as we need to be dealt with. Our task is to imitate that kindness so that we will be pleasing to Him and heard by others.

Therefore, the next time you feel the need to say something that might be taken hard, ask yourself how you could say it in a loving manner. You might find that just thinking about your comment will soften its edge making it more palatable.

“By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.” (Proverbs 25:15 NKJV)