Sacrifice – Addicted to love

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB) 

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Do you have an addiction?
The definition of an addiction can be referred to as a strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly (Merriam Webster) or simply a condition of being habitually involved in something.
The word “addiction” tends to carry a negative connotation and tends to come up whenever we speak of substance abuse, gaming and gambling.
In reality, addictions can happen in the most innocuous of ways.
I believe that all of us are in a state of addiction, in one way or another. 

To put things in perspective, addictions are simply habitual indulgences. 
Like habits, there are good and bad ones.
Bad habits work in the same way as addictions.
For example, when one is guilty of always sleeping late, it becomes a habitual lifestyle of not getting enough rest.
Can we then say that this person is addicted to nocturnal activities?
What about a habit of sugar indulgence?
Isn’t that simply called sugar addiction?
In fact, sugar is 8 times more addictive than cocaine!
Can you believe it?
Too much sugar is bad for the body and when sugar is controlling your life, it will lead to long term detrimental health issues. 

A question we need to ask ourselves is whether we are addicted to this world and the things that come with it?
The bible instructs us not to love the world or anything in it because you either love the world or you love God (1 Joh 2:15). You either entertain your fleshly desires or you sow into your spirit. 

A sacrifice has to be made. 

Either you say no to your flesh and sacrifice those desires in exchange for a renewed mind through the word of God, or you will be habitually in bondage and slave to your flesh. 

Jesus demonstrated the ultimate example of dying to the self and became the sacrificial lamb for all humanity.
He never entertained His flesh but was constantly praying for His Father’s will to be done.
He sacrificed His own will.
He was never in love with Himself or the world.
Whilst Jesus did not have any addictions in general, His one addiction came in the form of love and compassion for souls.
Jesus could not stop loving people and His love extended to the extent of His death. 

What then is our response? 

Be an imitator of Christ.
Copy His footsteps.
Walk in love.
Our lives must be a living sacrifice offered unto God.
We must be consciously addicted not just to God’s love but also to love others.
Everything that we do should be motivated and inspired by God’s love for us (1 Cor 16:14).
As children of God, we are vessels of God’s sacrificial love, habitually soaking ourselves in God’s love and allowing that love to be channelled to the world. Love must be the basis of all that we do and say. 

“Be an imitator of Christ. Copy His footsteps. Walk in love!”

Rom 13:8 (TLB)

 ^“Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others—never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements.”

Paul reminded us that we are all debtors to each other. We do not owe the world or anyone anything, except the debt of loving others. Sacrifice your rights, die to self and never demand anything that can be an obstacle to the Good News and sacrificial love of Christ. We are called to be living sacrifices, slaved to righteousness, slaved to a burning desire to love God and love people. 

Heb 10:25 (AMP)

“…not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.”

Be addicted to love.
Our faithful addiction to love each other should spur us to continue meeting habitually, encouraging one another.
Be a sacrifice so that many more can be impacted by our lives. 

Reflection and Prayer

• Is there an addiction in your life that you need to surrender it to God and deal with it?
• How can you be a living sacrifice for His Kingdom in your current season?
• Ponder on this: Are you walking in love?