November 18, 2001

IMITATORS OF GOD

Ephesians 5:1-4

   "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; and walk in love as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor" (Ephesians 5:1-2). Of the many different Greek words translated "follow" in our Bibles, this word is really means we are to be "imitators," not just followers of God. In order to imitate someone, you must observe that person with great care and detail if your "imitation" is to be seen by others!

   And if we desire to "walk in love," who better to imitate than God, Himself? If we are to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another," what better example could there be than God, Who for Christ's sake has forgiven us? God was kind and loving and offered us forgiveness, not when we came to our senses and asked Him for such favors. This was His attitude toward us while we were rather un-loveable, if you think on it. Oh, we can be very forgiving provided the offender approaches us just right and is quick to confess his wrong doing and begs our forgiveness on bended knee. But would this be an imitation of God? What an example we have help us to "walk in love"!

   We are given both positive and negative instruction. Paul is very plain, even blunt, that "fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetous-ness" are never to be named among believers. Our behavior is to be "as becometh saints," God's holy ones! Not only impurity of deed is to be totally avoided, but "neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting" are fit words from those who "walk in love." Praise and thanks to God should come from our mouths in order to edify the hearers!

   Failure on our part could result in loss of reward, "for...you know that no fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous man...has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (5:5). Certainly part of our spiritual inheritance is because of our redemption, but Paul points out a portion that could be lost. "Beware lest any man spoil you [make a spoil of you] through philosophy and vain deceit... Let no man beguile [defraud] you of your reward," and again, "of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance" (Col. 2:8,18;3:24). Let us never forget Who we are imitating and keep our eyes on Him!

Ivan L. Burgener