Ephesians 5:1 states, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Love is defined by Webster as a “profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.” Yes, this is true, but love is so much more. Note that Paul writes that we are dearly loved children. Cherished ones who belong to God the Father. He gives us our identity before he instructs us. He points us back to the beginning of his letter. Take a moment and read Ephesians 1:3-14.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will in order that we who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the praise of His glory.”

You were created for a purpose that will bring God glory and it all begins with love. So live a life of love. Choose to be patient, kind, content, humble, respectful, focused on others. Choose to stay calm. Choose to forgive freely. After all love rejoices with the truth and hates evil. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (from I Cor. 13:4-8) Choose to love. Jesus did.