April 26, 2021: How We See Ourselves in the Eyes of Our Lord Is the First Step in Loving Others.

In today's "Our Daily Bread", the Apostle Paul is addressing his letter to the Ephesians regarding their conduct with others. He states that if they truly follow Christ and have been taught by Him, then they must: "put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind". Read the following in Ephesians 4:

Ephesians 4: 20-24

But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

At the very heart of our faith in Jesus is being able to see ourselves from the "eyes of our Lord." We must see ourselves as being "loved and embraced by our Savior"...at our worst. You see, Jesus loved us at our very worst as a person. In 1John 4: 19 it states: "We love Him because He first loved us". And in Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us".

When we come to recognize the unconditional love of Christ in our hearts, it is then we can "absolutely surrender" all our selves to Him. But we cannot stop there. The verse also states that we must be "renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God".

To be "renewed in the spirit of the mind" means that we must get rid of the junk that we have learned from our past life and fill it with "God's word". God's word is a living instrument or tool by which God uses to purify our hearts and minds along with the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us.

As we "surrender" ourselves to God, His word, and the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will begin to realize the joy and peace we have in our Creator, and that we are no longer alone but part of a family, a "body" of those learning to walk the "way of love"-real, unconditional love, in our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

Living worthy of the calling believers have received involves character. Humility puts the needs of others ahead of ourselves. Gentleness resists self-importance and offers courtesy. Patience resists self-gratification. And bearing with one another in love is acceptance without conditions. Let us begin to see our "self-worth" through the "Eyes of Jesus" so that we can begin to love others as Jesus loves us.