Inconvenient Love.

Let’s Journey Together and spend a Moment with Father.

I’m Linda Goldfarb, and I want to encourage and inspire your walk with the Lord. For more encouragement, please visit LindaGoldfarb.com.

I’m so glad you’re here.

Several Sundays back, my pastor shared on the topic of loving others inconveniently from Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV.

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

His use of the word inconveniently intrigued me.

To be inconvenienced rubs us the wrong way.

• We may be asked to go out of our way for someone.
• We may be asked to miss out on something.
• We may be asked to labor when we desire Rest & Relaxation.

Being inconvenienced is never an immediate thought when we wake, “Oh, I hope I experience inconvenience today!”

Yet, according to this passage in Ephesians, when it comes to loving others, our inconvenience should be sought after.

“Mom, would you mind …”

“Dad, I know I said I’d help, but …”

“Babe, I realize I promised to go, but …”

“Excuse me, I’m down on my luck. Could you spare a …”

Inconvenience.

Ugh. Do I have to?

Yeah. I expected as much.

I can’t trust your promises.

I don’t even know you!

And yet …

Be imitators of Christ.

• Walk in love.
• Give of yourself.
• Offer more than you receive.
• And do all of these with joy.

For God so loved the world, He did not allow inconvenience to stop Him from sacrificing Himself to save us.

• “Lord, would you mind … ?”
• “Abba, I know I said I would … but …”
• “Father, I realized I promised to … but …”
• “Excuse me, God, I’m in a tough spot. Could you …?”

I thank the Lord.

He loves me so much that I am n-e-v-e-r an inconvenience.

How about you? When has God prompted you to love others, even though it was an inconvenience? How did He bless you in your sacrifice?

Let’s Journey Together.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me to infinity. Thank You for giving me moments to show love, Your love, to others. Help me to release the mindset of inconvenience, O God, so that I might experience a deeper level of love for others. Ignite in me the joy of walking life out in Your shadow. Help me to be a blessing to others as You so generously bless me. I love You, Lord. Hallelujah.

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves; do what it says. James 1:22

May YHWH bless you, keep you, and guide you in all you do. Until next time, this is Linda Goldfarb, and I’m so glad we are on this journey together with Father.