Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way 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

My tendency is to press my point and keep pressing it until I win!  Love has nothing to do with it, I say. It is a matter of truth or falsehood.  Shape up and obey!  Ouch!

Paul speaks an entirely different language, “Walk,” he says “in the way of love.”  Love does not mean that the truth is diminished, it means that we approach every relationship, as children of God, with open-hearted love, willing to forbear, to listen, to assist, to intercede, to help carry the burden.  That is the way of love.  It describes the love that drove Jesus Christ as he loved us and (can it be?) gave himself up for us.  Grace beyond degree.

He held nothing against those who come to him pleading the cleansing Blood of Jesus Christ. That is the very reason Jesus gave his life on the Cross.  His death was the supreme act of love, not retaliation or judgment or hate, the human ways of protecting ourselves.  Rather, poured out love!

Now, reader, Paul encourages us to love as Christ loved and continues to love, by giving ourselves up to him.  This means giving ourselves up like he did. So, instead of standing judging everyone according to my view, I love instead of pointing the finger.  For those, like me, lack that kind of divine love, the love of God that is in us because he dwells there, a love that is a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  That is the way we should interact with all, in love.  Instead of fumes of hate, the fragrance of the sacrifice fills the life and the sacrifice to God has done its work.

Once again, what looks, at first, easy to do, is impossible without the Spirit of the Lord making it possible.  Our walk is a miracle indeed, wrought every day, by the Lord.