A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

WALK IN THE WAY OF LOVE  

Ephesians 5:1-2 “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.”  

You know when a letter closes with the word “love,” or “love you” there is a special bond between the writer of the letter and the recipient. You must read the content of the letter to determine how strong that love is, but by merely putting the word love at the end of the letter the sender is saying there is a love and affection between the two parties.  

Three times in today’s devotional verse you find the word love used. The context indicates that the love is between the recipients and their God. The verse does not just say “love” in addressing the recipients. It says they are “dearly loved.” That ratchets up the intensity of the relationship. It is the kind of love found in John 3:16 where John spells out the depth of God’s love for the readers of the gospel. God loved them (so much) that He sacrificed His Son Jesus for them on Calvary’s cross.   

Paul, in addressing the Ephesian Christians encourages them to imitate, to follow the example of the love God has shown them by embracing with love those with whom they come in contact. This message of St. Paul parallels what Jesus said in John 15:12, “love one another, just as I have loved you” and what John wrote in 1 John 4:16,19: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them . . .We love because He first loved us. . . “ 

The content of the Gospel spells out the depth of the love that God has for you and the depth that He desires you to have for one another. Today’s verse counsels that you love “just as Christ loved (you) and gave Himself up for (you) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Of course, you are unable, as Jesus did, to offer yourself as an atoning sacrifice. However, what Paul is saying is walking in the way of love is living your life with a willingness to give up something that is valuable to you in order to help another person.   

Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill my heart with my heavenly Father’s love from which to draw my love for those around me. Help me to minister to others in love even as Jesus sacrificed His life for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Love in Christ is strong and living
Binding faithful hearts in one;
Love in Christ is true and giving,
May His will in us be done. 

Love is patient and forbearing,
Clothed in Christ’s humility,
Gentle, selfless, kind, and caring,
Reaching out in charity. 

Love in Christ abides forever,
Fainting not when ills attend;
Love forgiving and forgiven,
Shall endure until life’s end.  (LSB 706)