Love Life - Encouragement Café - October 10, 2016

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Love Life - Just Like You
By Paris Renae
Monday, October 10, 2016

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 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.  >Ephesians 5:1-2 NIVUK                                                                   

Around here, we are getting excited about a new family member due to make his debut in just a few more months. Right now he’s being knit together in the hidden place by loving hands.

As the Grammy instead of the Mommy this time, I have an entirely different perspective.  I want this little one to know his first love isn’t mom, dad, grammy – no one on earth.  I want to stir that faint memory of One who loved him before his mother ever kissed his little fingers and his dad beamed proud.

Jesus wants the same for you and me.  Yes, we have many loves here on earth – parents, siblings, friends, spouses, children, and grandchildren.  Yet throughout God’s Word there is the call to remember.

Remember the love placed in your heart with its first beat.

Funny how that remembering works.  The more we love others by living lives that exhibit love, the more we imitate Him and the more that memory of first love becomes our companion.

I’ll be the first to admit, it’s not easy to imitate Jesus.  I was recently reminded that we aren’t called to like everyone, but we are called to love everyone.

How does that work?

Liking someone is based on my feelings – which ebb and flow.  Loving someone is based on a choice, I must choose to love regardless my feelings.

How did Jesus love the unsightly leper – He touched him.  How did he love the sinful woman – He let her touch Him.  How did He love those twelve close disciples – He was never too busy or impatient to teach them one more time.

How does He love you, me?

With a lavish love, unending love, unconditional love, abiding love, forgiving love, and more.  Even our futile attempts to imitate this kind of love bring gladness to the Father.

It starts with us – and our imitation of Him can change a life.

Living a life of love and imitating Jesus are tall orders.  I can’t do it.  Neither can you.  But we are not alone in this.  The Holy Spirit enables us, instructs us, guides us.

What does it take?  Desire.  Will you join me in stirring a desire to love like Him?

Oh Father, just the thought of trying to imitate You is scary. To live a life of love is something we fail at daily. But as we trust You more and as You plant desire in us, we will see more of the life You call us to. Thank You that we are dearly loved. Thank You for equipping us with all we need in Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

© 2016 by Paris Renae.  All rights reserved.

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