The Daily Word

 

When we were younger particularly, perhaps we saw people whom we admired and tried to model at least some part of our lives on. I remember when a totally new type of humour hit our television screens in the late 50s and early 60s, satirical humour in a program called “That was the week that was” or shortened to TW3. It was headed up by the late David Frost and looked at political events that had happened and made satirical fun out of them and sometimes society in general. It struck an instant chord with me and I can still remember some of the sketches, and I still enjoy such humour, so then I had my hair cut like David Frost’s for a while!

This type of ‘hero worship’ can get out of hand and can dominate lives and lead to unnatural and even antisocial behaviour. But there is one ’hero’ that we should all aim to follow and model our lives on, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Following Him and seeking to be like Him will only bring contentment to us but benefit to others and in Ephesians 5 v 2 we have this exhortation, “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us”.

If the verse just said, ‘Walk in love’, that would bring in itself a mutual benefit to others and to ourselves, because love in our hearts has to result in loving actions. But the verse goes on to give a major qualification to the type of love our lives should show, ‘as Christ has loved us’. That is sacrificial love. Giving over and above what just ordinary love would give.

The question we must all ask ourselves is “Are we demonstrating that quality of love to others in our own lives?” And if we want to get even more specific, “What sacrificial love action have you or I committed today and what about our plans for tomorrow?” The exhortation is clear and unavoidable in its direction and not to obey it is to not follow Jesus Christ as we should. A serious thought that we should be letting Him down through our lack of love towards others!

Article written by Brian Preston, Elder @SFGH Church