Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Walking through Ephesians - Day 100

versebyverse | February 24, 2008 16:28

Thought:  To me, society needs to return to the concept of living to please God.

Question:  Are the behaviors of my life a sweet fragrance to God?

Scripture:  Ephesians 5:2 (NIV):  "and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

So the whole life boils down to being motivated by one power:  love.  "Live a life of love."  Wow!  And how is love shown?  By sacrifice, by "giving self up" to focus instead on the needs of others.  When Christ loved us during His life on earth He showed love by looking to the needs of everyone around Him, those close in proximity to Him, His "neighbors."  He never spoke of His needs nor demanded that things go His way, nor did He force His will on anyone.  He also shared truths, teaching and guiding those near Him; He challenged others, He made them think about spiritual things.  All of Christ's behaviors joined and became a "fragrant offering" to God.  A fragrance is a pleasing atmosphere to the one surrounded by it.  God received a "pleasing atmosphere" from His Son.  As Jesus served others He was offering Himself as a gift to His Father.  Christ's deeds and words pleased God, His Father.  This was, I'm sure, Christ's primary motivation in everything He did:  to please God, His Father.  In the same way, as we emulate or copy Christ, as we "imitate" Him, we too should only do those things that please Our Father, God.  We should give ourselves up for the sake of others.  Our life should be characterized by sacrifice.  Christ's certainly was.

Prayer:  Great God of Love, fill me with Your love so that it may overflow to others!  Enable me to sacrifice my entire life and seek to please only You.  Amen. 

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