May 23 Imitate God

 
Ephesians 4:32-5:1 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 
TODAY is the first of three teachings on Paul’s teaching to “Be imitators of God as beloved children.”
    This is a lofty instruction, isn’t it? In fact, such a teaching can seem unreachable and even cause us to say, “I’ll never be able to imitate God! So why even try?” Often, though, when we are given a big goal, a good way to help us reach the goal is to focus on certain steps we can take, one at a time, to reach the goal. Let’s then look at four steps the Apostle Paul gives to us this passage from the end of Ephesians 4 and beginning of Ephesians 5.
    First we step into kindness. Being kind means we have a heart to help, encourage and bless others. Our words are focused on helping. Our actions are centered on serving. A humble, patient heart is a kind heart.
    A second step to be tenderhearted. This is the heart that is eager to care for someone’s emotions and spiritual comfort. Tenderness is an open ear with time to listen to the wounded. Tenderness tells a hurt soul, “You can come to me, and I will care for you.”
    We step next toward imitating God with forgiveness, a step that may be the most difficult. The human heart too readily locks up grudges and painful memories. We sometimes consider, “He doesn’t deserve my forgiveness.” And we feel our unforgiveness punishes another’s errors. But I’ll simply point you to the Lord’s Prayer. You’ve often said the words Jesus taught us regarding prayer in Matthew 6:12 “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Then he taught us further in Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  These are frightening words. Your locked up heart will put your eternal soul at risk. So imitate God. Forgive others as he has forgiven you.
    Then Paul takes us to the core of imitating God. We cannot take these imitating steps alone. Instead, we must “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Our walk toward imitating God begins with love, doesn’t it? After all, “God so loved the world…” (John 3:16) The commandments are based on loving God and loving others. Our relationship with Jesus centers on this: John 13:35: By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
    Daily we must come face-to-face with Jesus’ sacrificial, fragrant love. Remember the eternal aroma of his loving kindness, tenderness and forgiveness. Loving us, Jesus came to teach, to heal, to forgive, to bless, to admonish, to prophecy, to die, to rise and to ascend. Remember his love to send the Holy Spirit to empower you to imitate God.
    Jesus imitated the Father. The Spirit reveals Jesus. Pray the Spirit keeps your heart on Jesus. Live loving God and loving others. Imitate God’s love. Be his beloved child. Show the world who True Love is.