Ephesians 5:1-17 How We Can Imitate God

Paul tells us to imitate God since we are His beloved children, in much the way our young children often imitate us.  He tells us to do that by walking in love, walking as children of light, and walking in wisdom.

Some of the points that really stuck out this morning:

"We are born into a loving relationship with the Father that ought to result in our showing love to him by the way we live ... Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' But He laid down His life for His enemies.  Our love for Him is our response to His love for us."

Walking as children of light means as saints -- set apart ones -- we cannot let an uncontrolled appetite for anything control us, whether it be sex or covetousness -- the lust of the flesh or the lust of the eyes.

Paul dealt with "the habitual practice of sin here, not the occasional act of sin ... A Christian is not sinless, but he does sin less -- and less -- and less!"  

"It is impossible to be in darkness and light at the same time ... To walk as children of light means to live before the eyes of God, not hiding anything... It also means revealing God's light in our daily lives."

"God does not want us simply to know His will; He wants us to understand His will."

Father, keep me from the darkness and keep me in Your light.  Expose anything in me that isn't in Your will.  Help me to understand why things are Your will so that I won't be tempted to live outside of Your will. 

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Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford