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 Ephesians 5 - Imitate God

        So, how should we live?  The Bible says to imitate God.  This is not just in one or two areas - or on Sundays.  It says in everything we do.  In everything!

        God is loving and kind.  But to imitate Him we have to know Him.  We have to hear Him, see Him, and grow in our understanding of His ways.

        So we do have a mentor after all!  King Jesus is our mentor.  The Gospels let us see Him in action.  As does the entire Old Testament and the New Testament.

        God creates.  He’s powerful.  And generous.  He will exercise extreme patience.  Then He will bring swift and fierce justice.  He is extremely creative.  God’s sense of humor is marvelous.  He loves to use oddballs to achieve the unthinkable.  He pulls off miracles.

        So, let’s imitate God in everything we do.  We are His children.  He is our example.  You’ll notice with God that he eats and feasts.  But He is not a glutton.  And He knows a good cologne when He smells one.  You’ll note that Jesus serves (and drinks!) the finest wine.  But He never, ever, gets drunk.  And He sings hymns with His friends.  He's the best friend - a loyal friend.  

        He is the hardest worker.  No one can outwork God.  

        He approves of sex - He invented it. God is never sexually immoral - and He never approves of such behavior.  But He designed sex to be between a woman - for her benefit and pleasure - and her husband.  And likewise for the husband.

        God is pure.  We must intentionally imitate God with purity in our thoughts and actions.

        And you see, God’s the opposite of greedy; He’s imaginatively generous.  God made everything - even the concept of exchange and money.  God gives.  All good gifts are from Him.  To imitate God we are good gift givers - we are never greedy and always ready to give without selfish expectation of return.

        For we know without a doubt that all good things are from the hand of the Father.  We can’t truly enjoy anything or find satisfaction apart from God (Ecclesiastes 2:25).  But with God, wow, it’s a whole different story - we can know true pleasure and satisfaction.  

        Lord Jesus, we know your reign is forever.  On this important day please help us to imitate You in all we do.  May my family and friends firmly feel and know your magnificent love and wisdom.  Amen.





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