Have you ever spoon fed a baby, and while attempting to have them eat, you open your mouth so that they can imitate the action? Still to this day, when I feed a baby, I open my mouth when I give them food. Oh, and don’t forget the “mmmm” sound too. (I bet many of you just imitated that action while reading the words. LOL!)
When our children were little, they used to intently observe Tim and I and try to imitate various movements, sounds, and words. “Momma”, “Dadda”, “ball”, bang a pot with a wooden spoon as a drum, throw or catch a ball, brush teeth, and on and on.
As they grew, the imitations didn’t cease. They would (and still do, and often call me on my actions) observe how we drive, open the door for others, say “Thank you” or “Please”, and treat other people.
Then, there are those moments when I witness an action or saying that the children (now grown) do, and it is as if I’m looking in a mirror. Some imitations make me smile and think to myself, “Yes! They have been listening all this time”, while others make me say, “Lord, help me!” or “Oh no!”
When I read Ephesians 5:1-2, I can’t help but remember those childhood moments, and pray for my children, and me and my man, and all y’all, to be imitators of Christ.
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
These verses can arouse various emotions. They can either:
- Challenge you to follow Christ and live a life of love, as He did,
- Scare you, when you read the word “everything”,
- Make you yearn for a “life filled with love”,
- Set your perspective where it should be, on God,
- Humble you, as you recollect the sacrifice He did for us,
- Or, make you take a deep breath, so that you can smell the satisfying aroma, and smile within at its sweetness.
I appreciate the simplicity of the wording from The Message translation:
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Sweetness!
Watch God. That means to read His word. Learn from it. Hang with Him daily. Put your God Goggles on.
Love, and love extravagantly!
Give. Don’t expect anything in return, just give.
Do as Matthew 6:33 says:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
We will begin to imitate God when we seek Him first.
Many blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
Enjoy Lauren Daigle’s song First.
AND…
Christ Is Enough For Me, by Hillsong Worship.
Have you decided to follow Jesus?
Christ is enough for me
Everything I need is in You
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
The cross before me
The world behind me
No turning back
WATCH. LEARN. DO.