The Way of Love
October 8, 2018
Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us . . . Ephesians 5:2 NIV
Sometimes directions are unclear and must be specified and clarified if they are to be followed accurately. For instance, there can be a variety of definitions and standards for cleaning a room or a house. What one person accepts as clean may steer very wide of the mark for someone else. That is why when our children were young, we had to devise a way to get on the same page. We found out that saying, “Today is your day to clean the bathroom” would get very different plans of action, depending on the child. One child would assume the bathroom was clean if there were no towels lying around, and the waste basket wasn’t overflowing on the floor. Another child assumed it meant the wastebasket was empty and the sink and tub had been freshly wiped down. Clean meant the counters were wiped, the toilet was freshened, the floor was swept, and a full roll of toilet paper available. We concluded we needed a specific standard. So, we went through the house and made a chart to hang on the inside of the cleaning closet door. “This Is What It Means to Clean Our House” was the title, and each room was listed with a brief and specific standard for a passing grade on cleaning that room.
Essentially that is what Paul has done for us. He tells us we are to love, and then he gets specific: “Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.”
The way of love is “just as Christ loved us.” How has He loved you? What are the characteristics? Paul is very specific: His love was sacrificial, unselfish, giving. “He gave himself up for us.” We know for sure, then, that our love is to be intentional, sacrificial, thinking of the other one first. It is proactive. What other words describe the specific standard of the way of love, defined by the love of Jesus? This is your standard. It’s your job description.
- Write a sentence or bullet point describing the way of love as defined by the actions of Jesus. Then see how well these describe the way you are currently loving the people in your life.
- Where do you need to make some corrections in your understanding and following the way of love, Jesus-style? How will you begin?
- Pray about it.