Extravagant Love
Eph 4:29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
30 Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Ephesians 5
Wake Up from Your Sleep
5 1-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
It has long bothered me how the everyday behavior of some Christians has morphed into something indistinguishable from the world. “Each word is a gift,” reminds us that we should do nothing to break God’s heart, but instead our words and actions should reflect His great love and mercy.
Paul says to imitate God’s conduct by keeping company with Him. Watch what He does and do the same. Is Paul calling for perfection? Not at all. Instead, Paul is bringing to our attention that when we spend time with God we become transformed by His presence, by His influence, and by His character.
May we today and every day reflect the love, grace and mercy of God in everything we do. Take the name of Jesus with you and share Him with all you meet.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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