Imitate God

So much of what we learn is by trying to emulate someone having success at whatever we are trying to do. Kids imitate sports heroes and as adults we often try to duplicate someone else who has done what we are seeking to accomplish. A sometimes sobering truth is that our children learn from and copy us. Spiritually speaking we have a Father whom we are to imitate.

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2 

First of all, you are a dearly loved child. Like a child interacting with their loving parent, responding to every move, we imitate our Father in heaven. 

This is pretty straightforward. Christ gave himself up for us, we give ourselves up for others. We, like Christ, are a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Get that? To God. Our acts of love are first of all to God. Why? Because sometimes the person we need to love isn't making it easy to be loving to them. The truth: sometimes WE make it difficult for those closest to us to love us. Secondly, our acts of love are sacrifices to God. That means it is going to cost us something. That might mean time, money, pride, effort, or a mixture of each. 

That is the to do: Give yourself up for others. Giving starts at home...

Father, thank you that Christ gave himself for us. Help us to give ourselves for others. Praise be to you in us today!