Day 3: Imitating God
Reading: Ephesians 5:1-7
5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 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.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Footnotes
[a] Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
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Devotional:
The call to imitate God can feel overwhelming at first. But Paul grounds it immediately in love, specifically the sacrificial love of Christ. We are not being asked to manufacture divine perfection on our own. We are being invited to follow the example of someone we know personally. Sexual immorality, greed, and impurity are not merely moral failures. Paul calls them idolatry, the worship of created things in place of the Creator. When we choose these things, we are choosing a different lord. The good news is that the same Christ who offered himself for us is alive and present, ready to lead us away from what destroys us and toward what gives life.
Are there areas of your life where something other than God has taken the place of first priority?
Spend time today in honest prayer, naming anything that has functioned as an idol. Ask God to reorder your desires and affections around Him.
5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 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.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Footnotes
[a] Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Devotional:
The call to imitate God can feel overwhelming at first. But Paul grounds it immediately in love, specifically the sacrificial love of Christ. We are not being asked to manufacture divine perfection on our own. We are being invited to follow the example of someone we know personally. Sexual immorality, greed, and impurity are not merely moral failures. Paul calls them idolatry, the worship of created things in place of the Creator. When we choose these things, we are choosing a different lord. The good news is that the same Christ who offered himself for us is alive and present, ready to lead us away from what destroys us and toward what gives life.
Are there areas of your life where something other than God has taken the place of first priority?
Spend time today in honest prayer, naming anything that has functioned as an idol. Ask God to reorder your desires and affections around Him.
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3 Comments
I think the imitating of God is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit in us. We lean into Him, let Him fill us, and He does the work.
I have found it to be most tempting to make an idol of the things God has entrusted to me (children, work, ministry). When I became a father, I felt this new responsibility to care for and provide for my family. Over time God has reminded me that He is our provider and He can care for my family better than I can. It is humbling to surrender this to the Lord and to learn to show my family an example of a man of God rather than a person who could provide well.
I think the world’s version of love is very different from the love Christ demonstrated for us. I need the reminder everyday to strive to love how Jesus loves. Love is not a feeling, it is putting others needs above my own and showing kindness, even to those who hate you. True love is not easy. True love is patient and kind, it does not envy or boast, it’s not arrogant or rude, it does not insist on it’s own way, it is not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.