“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)
So, this last day of 2024 we come to the close of our study of purity. Paul sums our study up in the above verses. The disciples nor Christ ever referred to Christ’s followers as Christians. Tradition tells us that the followers of Christ were first called Christians in Antioch. It was not meant as a positive name, but poking fun at those imitators of Christ or little Christs. However the followers of Christ quickly accepted the description. They wanted to be imitators of God and children of God.
When we read through the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) we can have snapshots of Christ’s life on earth. No, it is not everything that happened to Him, like might be recorded in a diary. However, there is more than enough there to see that Christ walked in love toward humanity each and every day. His daily life was a living offering and sacrifice to God. His ultimate offering and sacrifice was on Calvary.
Paul’s advice to us today is to walk in love, being an imitator of Christ, showing love to those who would make fun of us as they made fun of Him. Showing love to those who were ungrateful for the blessings God provided in healing, in multiplying food when needed, in the gift of forgiveness. That is the character I need to imitate in my interactions with others. My life is to be a reflection of Christ’s life which can only happen if I am empowered by the Holy Spirit and have Christ’s spirit (the Holy Spirit) living in me.
Listen to the Hymns of Hope, Hope Channel, South Philippines as they sing “Live Out Thy Life Within Me.”
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 12/31/24, 5:00 pm