Walk in Love

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love" (Eph. 5:1,2)

Here is another devotional by Dr. R. H. Belton teaching us about how to walk in love.

"Be ye followers of God" can be read, "Be ye mimics of God," or "Be ye imitators of God." How can one mimic God, or be an imitator of Him? By walking in love.

The context explains how the Christian is to walk in love. The last verse of the preceding chapter reads "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Here is the divine standard--we are to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us. What condition were we in when we were forgiven and God in His mercy showed kindness to us? Chapter two tells us. Since God forgave us so much when we  were in that wretched condition, can we not be kind and forgiving?

Jesus spoke this same truth, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). The context explains that verse also and refers to our loving and forgiving others.

The Holy Spirit of God is willing and waiting to put out of our lives all bitterness and wrath. He desires to shed abroad God's love in our hearts. He will enable us to walk in love, and to the extent that we do this are we imitators of God.

Never forget the example we have. Our standard for forgiving others is not as they forgave us, but we are to forgive as God in Christ has forgiven us. This is the heavenly life. Are we forgiving others? Are we walking in love?