And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Ephesians 5:2
Do you enjoy the smell of burning meat? I don’t refer to the glorious aroma of a tender steak searing in a hot pan or on an open grill. No, I refer to the acrid and penetrating smell of flames from a hot fire consuming the charred body of an animal. That is the smell that would have filled the tabernacle in the wilderness most of the time. If we had drawn near, we would have probably found it offensive and even choking. But the Israelites had no such response. To them, it was the wonderful aroma of God’s acceptance of their offerings and sacrifices. And over and over in the book of Leviticus, especially in the first three chapters, we find the offerings referred to as a sweet savour unto the Lord. The reason why God found those offerings so wonderful was the manner in which they described and foreshadowed the offering and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. As wonderful as those offerings were to God, we don’t carry them on today, because that of which they spoke has been fulfilled. And God is forever and infinitely pleased with Christ’s work. Isaiah 53:11 declares ‘He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied’. The atoning work of Christ is the ultimate example of walking in love.
The expression ‘walk in love’ in our text is highly unusual, in fact, this is the only place in the Scriptures that the term in the original Greek – peripateite en agape – appears. The word ‘peripateite’ does not mean merely walking, but it indicates a continual and consistent purposeful practice. And the word ‘agape’ is the selfless, unconditional, and unmerited love that is the very nature of God, as expressed in the giving of His Son, and as expressed in the offering and sacrifice of Christ. An examination of the life and death of the Lord Jesus reveals the ultimate fulfilment of walking in love. But you and I are to note His great example, and seek to copy it.
Like the Lord Jesus, we should allow our love to be evident toward those around us. We should be caring and patient, helpful, understanding, willing to put ourselves out, to share whatever we have, to show compassion, even to weep with them. But the Lord Jesus did not only love those who would be His friends, He loved those who were His enemies, and He urges us to do the same. ‘But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you’ (Matthew 5:44).
It was not an easy or inexpensive path for the Lord Jesus to walk in love. It may also be hard and costly for us. But it will be so sweet and precious to God! -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/Ua1Bw2NwpE8