Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us* and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
Observation
In Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Paul challenges us to have our life filled with kindness and forgiveness. He does so not in a moralizing way. Rather, he reminds us that our “doing” flows out of our “being” and therefore, Paul wants us more than anything else to remember our identity as dear children of a kind and loving Father in heaven. Often in relationships we simply end up mirroring the people we are dealing with. If people are kind to us, we are kind to them. But if people are making our life difficult, we end up making their life difficult as well. But Paul is saying that we are not to imitate and react in accordance to how people behave towards us, but in accordance to how God has loved us in Christ. We are called to imitate the kindness of Christ.
Application
Today`s text reminded me again of how important it is to remember our identity in Christ. We face many challenges and struggles. But we do not face them alone. We have Christ living in us! We have Jesus not only as our guide, but as our lover and redeemer living in and through us.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you that you are alive! Thank you that with you I can face any challenge! Thank you that you loved us so much that you gave yourself for us. Fill me with your love so that I too can love others with that same sacrificial love. Amen.
