“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:1-2).
There is a higher dimension of living that many of us never experience. It is the dimension of walking in love. Look at the life of Jesus. He had a purpose of the greatest love—to give His life for us. Jesus had many adversaries. Nevertheless, He was able to stay in peace. He looked beyond all our ugliness and forgave us. He held nothing against us, and he held nothing back. He loved us unconditionally. The peace Jesus has given us with God is powerful. When we allow His peace to rule in our hearts, we can walk in love. "As Jesus is, so are we in this world" (I John 4:17). If we are as He is, we have His power to walk in love.
Peace and love are the fruit of the Spirit that we have received, but we must allow them to be activated in our lives. The peace we have in our relationship with God is powerful. When we allow His peace to rule in our hearts, we have His power not to hold grudges or to be offended. We live out of the peace of our relationship with Jesus. His love defines us. We forgive as He has forgiven us. His love becomes our choice and our purpose.
We are on this earth to make God’s goodness and love known to others. When our only purpose is to bless others, we have no fear of circumstances or people. Circumstances and people can be difficult but staying in His love keeps us in peace.
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45).
What is your response to difficult people? Do you say, “I can’t forgive them! Do you know what they did to me?” Jesus was hanging on the cross when He said, “Father, forgive them.” Is it possible to live as Jesus did? Yes, it is. The Holy Spirit has equipped us to do just that.
“. . . the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).
If you are born again, the love of God has been shed abroad in your heart. You are ready to walk in love. God wouldn’t expect something from you if it wasn’t possible. You have been forgiven, cleansed, made new, and filled with the love of God. The way to live in peace is to walk in love with everyone. His peace empowers you to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
Jesus gave Himself as an offering for us. He took our offense. His offering was sweet and acceptable to God on our behalf. There is no reason for us to live with a spirit of offense. If Jesus can stay in peace with those who wanted to kill Him, we can stay in peace with those who hurt us. When His peace rules in our hearts, His love reigns in our hearts. We surrender our fleshly feelings to His desire within us to love, and we choose to be as kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving as Jesus.
“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:14-15).
Let His peace rule in your heart, changing your life. His peace reveals His love in your heart. His love defeats fear. His peace allows love to flow unhindered, transforming you and flowing into the lives of others. You have the power of the Holy Spirit to stay in the peace of God and walk in His love.
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