Be imitators of God, 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]
Live a life of love … a seemingly simple command in the Bible that will better our lives and glorify God. What happens when we decide to glorify God in our daily lives by demonstrating love to all around us? If we begin the day thinking about good we things can do for our family, our friends, our neighbors, or those we casually encounter, we start to focus our attention away from ourselves and to others. When we take the time to think of ways to lift up others, and less about what others can do for us, we allow our egos to step aside. If we start to think of others the way Jesus would think of them, we can live our lives in a way that brings glory and honor to God, and positively influences the lives of those we encounter. We can begin to live the life that God would have us live.
So start concentrating on how we can be more loving. While getting ready to start the day, come up with three special things you will do for someone that day that is a reflection of a caring and loving heart. Strike up a conversation with someone who is thought of as an “outcast” in the neighborhood, work or school. Offer praise to your child for something you catch them doing that is good. Give a hug to someone who is going through some pain. At the end of the day, reflect on how these acts of kindness and love demonstrate the way that Jesus would react to those in his circle of life. Offer a prayer that you will touch more lives each day and that your behavior will be a living witness to the loving hand of God to those around you. Each morning think of ways that you can be the hands and feed of Jesus — find ways to treat others in the way that Jesus would treat them if he were standing in your shoes.
As we practice the discipline of kindness, we will find ways to help others at all turns — not just those we pre-plan. Our lives will be transformed as we focus our attention on the needs of others. Our actions will be a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
February 27, 2011
Pathways Press.com 