Watch What He Does--Then Do It!

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

This week I had the pleasure of spending some time alone with my almost four year old grandson Michael. We took a “long” trip to visit some of our family, which translates we spent a lot of time riding in the car together. There were many questions about boats, bridges and of course the length of the trip and how much of it was left. He imagined pirates on the ships underneath of the Bay Bridge, and he was so much more impressed with boats that were moving as opposed to the ones that were still.

My favorite part of traveling with Michael however, was the amount of times out of the blue he told me “Ya-Ya, I love you.”  I would respond “I love you too sweetie,” and I would smile inside and out as I looked back at him. Nothing warms a grandmother’s heart like hearing I love you, not as a response, but just because.

Ephesians 5:1-2 in the Message says, 

"Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.  Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us, but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that". 

  Not cautious but extravagant is the kind of love I feel was given to me by Michael.  He told me over and over that he loved me, as if it was the first time he had said it to me.  That is the way we are to love one another.  The scripture says, “Watch what God does, and then you do it.”  

  Who needs to know today how much they are loved by Jesus and by you?  Observe how He loves us and pass it on.

~Donna

Action Step:  Take a few minutes in quiet and think about--really think about-- how extravagantly you are loved by God.   Detail it in your mind, or even write it in a journal or in your Bible.  Ask Him to give you an opportunity to love someone who needs it today.