By Mike Chaffin
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Ephesians 6:24
“With an undying love.” A different translations states this as; “who love in sincerity.” These last words catch one’s attention and cause some inner reflection.
Paul’s closing blessing to the Ephesians is more narrow than other letters and broader in other respects. He is addressing the entire body of Christ, and not just Ephesians, and he intimates, “Some of you reading this letter don’t love Christ sincerely.”
This reminds me of Jesus’s questioning of Peter on the seashore shortly before the ascension. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. Jesus finally convinced, confirms Peter’s love, and tells him he will die because of that love. That’s undying love.
Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary on this verse,
“Our love to Christ is not acceptable, unless it be in sincerity: indeed there is no such thing as love to Christ, whatever men may pretend, where there is not sincerity. The words may be read, Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption, who continue constant in their love to him, so as not to be corrupted out of it by any baits or seductions whatsoever, and whose love to him is uncorrupted by any opposite lust, or the love of anything displeasing to him.”
While that is sinking in, I am reminded of the parable Jesus taught of the ten virgins. Five were ready even though the bridegroom tarried. They had oil in their lamps, ready when the time came. Five had let their oil burn out and didn’t have enough left to enter the wedding party when the bridegroom arrived. They had let the cares of this world supplant their love for Jesus as the first thing. In Revelation 2:4 Jesus rebukes the church in Ephesus for abandoning their first love.
Loving Jesus in sincerity is so critical to our Christian walk that Jesus said if we weren’t prepared to lose our life for Him, we would never get eternal life in Heaven. Last words to think on.
Prayer: Dear Lord, examine me and forgive me for anything that replaces you as first in my life. Cleanse me of any sin that keeps me from loving you sincerely. Deliver me from any addiction that is keeping me from putting you first. I want to be known as one who loves you sincerely. In Jesus name, Amen.
