Daily Devotionals

The End Week 3: Saturday

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2

As we think about Jesus’ return, almost everything boils down to the question, “Who are we living for?” You see, we can either live for the world, or we can live for Him. These are the only two options, and we cannot live for both, and it is only when we live for Him that we are ready and prepared for the return of Jesus.  

What does it look like to live for Christ? Paul tells us in Ephesians 5. In this chapter, he writes, “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God” (verse 2). These verses make it clear that we are to model ourselves after Christ and His love. After all, He loved us so much that He left Heaven and gave up His life, dying a horrific death on the cross. His love can be defined as sacrificial. He loved us so much that He was willing to sacrifice. In response, we are to model His example of sacrifice. The idea of sacrifice means giving up something for the good or betterment of someone else. Christ sacrificed for us so that we have the choice to place our faith in Him. We have the opportunity to sacrifice to honor Him and point others to Him with our lives. To sacrifice means to let go of the things of the earth that we have been living for. Sometimes this means letting go of desiring the approval of people, popularity, and our financial gain. Whatever sacrifices God calls us to make, we can be sure that they will always be worth the cost.

When we live solely for Christ and follow His example of sacrificial love, Paul explains that we become “a pleasing aroma to God” (verse 2). I do not know about you, but I want to leave a pleasing aroma to Him. May our lives be so tethered to His and our sacrifices be a fragrant offering that pleases God and points others to Him.

Moving toward action

Who are you living for today? Is there anything holding you back from living for Christ? If so, what is it? Will you commit today to live only for Him and let go of anything holding you back? May you and I live solely for Him, being ready and prepared for the day when Christ returns.

Going Deeper

Ephesians 5:1-14 (NLT)

" Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”