Moment With The Master
“Imitators of God”
Categories: Moment With The Master“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet- smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1,2)
At the end of chapter 4, we are urged to have the forgiving spirit of Christ. Now at the beginning of chapter 5, we are commanded to imitate the Father's love.
Just as a child tries to walk in the shoes of their human father, God's children are to be like the heavenly Father. But how is that possible? One can never attain to the remarkable wisdom and power of God! While this is true, we are still expected to emulate the purity, forbearance, and forgiving spirit of God.
The operative word is love, which Paul says is the fulfillment of the law. (Galatians 5:14) This love promotes the proper motive in every human relationship. It is best manifested in deeds, not just words. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
God provided us with a picture of such love. We are instructed to walk in love as Christ has loved us. Here is one who offered himself for us. There is no better example than Jesus! “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Such love is manifested in God’s children through unselfish deeds. This means that every action toward others is motivated by a genuine care for their souls. It calls for one to have an approachable, caring spirit, and to sacrifice one's life as an offering for the well-being of others.
God received the sacrifice of Christ as a sweet smelling aroma. This means his sacrifice was well pleasing to God. When one generously offers their life to the Lord’s cause, they too offer a sweet smelling sacrifice to God. (Philippians 4:18)
We are to be filled with Divine thoughts and warmed by Divine love. The more one appreciates God's love toward them, the more surely one would desire to capture the loving spirit of the Father.
By George Slover
