Ephesians 5:1, 2, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
All of us need role models. All of us, whether we like it or not, are role models. Unfortunately, in modern history, people do not want to carry the burden of being role models. We say, “I am good musician, or a good athlete, or a good politician, or a good professor . . . do not expect me to be a role model.”
The Apostle Paul underlines this over and over again. On several occasions he asks the young disciples of Jesus to imitate him in their lives (I Corinthians 4:16; 11:1). In other epistles, he asks them to imitate those churches which are further along in maturity and relationship with the Messiah Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14). In yet other places he asks them to imitate the great heroes of faith in the Hebrew Bible (Hebrews 6:12).
Several of the above, are doable imitations. However, the Apostle Paul goes further. He urges the new Christians to be “imitators of God.” He urges this because they are now children of God. Children reflect the logos, pathos, and ethos of the Father.
The highest attribute of God, which he underlines is LOVE. He urges them to walk in love, as the Messiah loved us, and gave himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice. (Ephesians 5:1, 2).
The whole of the Old Testament sacrificial system can be expressed in one word- LOVE. God is constantly showing his sacrificial love to humanity, and in response, the children of God are required to express their sacrificial love towards him and towards each other.
This is an awesome calling.
This is an awesome vocation.
May we always remember to imitate God!
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