As the Day Begins
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.” — Ephesians 5:1–2
There is something beautiful about the early days of faith. Prayer feels fresh. Scripture seems alive on every page. Worship carries a sweetness that is difficult to describe. A person who has newly come to Christ often speaks about Him freely because the experience of grace is still close to the surface. Yet A. W. Tozer raises an uncomfortable question in today’s reading: why do we so easily assume that this spiritual fire must eventually cool into routine?
Paul’s words in Ephesians point us toward another possibility. He does not tell believers merely to remember how they once felt. He tells us to become “followers,” or imitators, of God and to “walk in love.” The Greek verb peripateō carries the idea of conducting one’s life, moving through daily existence in a particular way. In other words, spiritual vitality is not meant to be preserved as an old experience; it is meant to become a present pattern. The Christian life stays fresh when our attention remains fixed not on yesterday’s encounter with God, but on God Himself today.
Tozer makes an insightful observation when he writes that only “engrossment with God” can maintain spiritual enthusiasm because God alone possesses “everlasting novelty.” His point is not that prayer, worship, Bible reading, and Christian service become unnecessary. Rather, these practices become lifeless when they are separated from the Person toward whom they are supposed to lead us. We can become tired of religious routine, but we do not exhaust the riches of God.
Think about the difference between looking repeatedly at an old photograph of someone you love and actually sitting across the table from that person. The photograph is meaningful, but relationship requires presence. In the same way, yesterday’s spiritual memory can encourage us, but it cannot substitute for today’s fellowship with the Lord.
This morning, perhaps the most important question is not, “Do I still feel as excited as I once did?” A better question is, “Am I still turning toward God?” Feelings rise and fall. Circumstances change. Seasons of life become crowded, painful, quiet, or demanding. But the Lord remains inexhaustible.
Paul connects imitation of God with love because Christ Himself becomes our pattern: “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.” The Christian who keeps growing is not necessarily the person experiencing constant emotional intensity. It is the person increasingly shaped by Christ’s love. Spiritual maturity may look quieter than conversion enthusiasm, but it should never become spiritually smaller.
The danger is not that our emotions change. The danger is that our attention changes.
If our focus slowly shifts from God to habit, from Christ to church activity, from communion to obligation, then “Christian shrinkage” begins almost unnoticed. We still do many of the same things, but the center has moved. Yet the remedy is wonderfully simple: return our attention to God Himself. Speak with Him honestly. Read Scripture to meet Him rather than merely complete a task. Pause long enough to recognize His presence. Look for one opportunity today to imitate His love.
The Lord has not become less interesting. Grace has not become less amazing. Christ has not become less worthy. The Holy Spirit has not become less active. Often the freshness we think we have lost is waiting for us in renewed attention.
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You never grow stale, distant, or exhausted. You are endlessly worthy of worship and endlessly generous toward Your children. Forgive me when I have allowed familiarity to replace wonder or routine to replace communion. Draw my attention back to You today. Teach me to walk as Your beloved child, not merely completing religious duties but enjoying fellowship with You. Help me recognize Your goodness in ordinary moments and imitate Your character in the way I speak, work, think, forgive, and love. Keep my faith from shrinking into habit when You have invited me into living fellowship with Yourself.
Jesus the Son, thank You for loving me with a love that did not remain theoretical. You walked among us, served us, suffered for us, and gave Yourself for us. Teach me today to walk in that same love. When I am impatient, remind me of Your patience. When I am tempted to protect myself, remind me of Your sacrifice. When faith feels routine, turn my eyes again toward the cross and resurrection. Keep me from living on yesterday’s experience of You. Let me know You afresh today through obedience, prayer, Scripture, and the opportunities You place before me.
Holy Spirit, awaken my heart to the presence of God throughout this day. Guard me from spiritual dullness and from confusing activity with intimacy. Make familiar Scriptures fresh by helping me see Christ within them. Interrupt me when I begin moving through the day without awareness of God. Produce Your fruit within me, especially love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Give me an attentive spirit so that even ordinary moments become places of fellowship with the Triune God.
Thought for the Day: Do not spend today trying to recreate an old spiritual feeling. Turn your attention toward the living God, walk in Christ’s love, and allow fresh fellowship to keep your faith growing instead of shrinking.
For further study, Ephesians 5:1–2 provides a concise biblical picture of Christian maturity: believers imitate God as beloved children and demonstrate that family resemblance by walking in the self-giving love revealed in Christ. This means genuine spiritual growth is measured less by emotional intensity than by increasing Christlikeness in everyday life.
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