Be Imitators of God

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 (NIV)

Our third verse for this weekend is from today's lessons. We come back to our first verse, where Jesus tells us to love like Him. We add in the idea of not just loving, but of living. Live a life of love. If we are living a life of love, the verse tells us, we are a living sacrifice, giving of ourselves for others. We love one another as Jesus loves us. We carry each other's burdens. We live a life of sacrifice.

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Carry Each Other's Burdens

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

Continuing our theme from yesterday, of Jesus' command to love one another, we have this verse. This verse talks specifically about how to love one another. Carry each other's burdens. What does this mean? Help each other out. When you see someone struggling with something, offer your assistance. This doesn't mean just carrying the groceries. It encompasses more. If you see a friend who is sad, comfort them. If you see a Facebook status that indicates something is wrong, send that person a message and see what's up.

Those are relatively easy ways to carry soemone else's burden. If you know your friend is doing something wrong, say something to them. Support them if they're trying to quit something they shouldn't be doing. Keep them accountable. Keep them away from that boy who keeps hurting them, or that girl that keeps using them, or those cigarettes, that beer - whatever they need help with. Carry their burden because that is what God has asked you to do. Love one another.

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Love Each Other

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

John 15:12 (NIV)

Today's verse is part of a three-parter for the weekend. The theme is following Jesus' commandment to love one another, and how the Bible tells us to do that. Today we have Jesus telling us to love one another as He loves us. He set an example and He asks us to follow it.

Every time I think what it means to love like Christ, I think about loving those I would first judge. For me, that's people who aren't Christians, and people who have politically different opinions. I find myself often disregarding what they have to say and not wanting to associate with them. So when I think about this, I think about not just tolerating, but trying to understand people who have different points of view. Then when I encounter people who don't think as I do, I have a loving way of relating to them and disagreeing without judging, and without acrimony (being mean).

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