Scripture Daily

Context No. 4129 of 4322 · Ephesians

Context · Reflection

Ephesians 5:1-5: in context

1Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; 4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks. 5Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

Paul gives a lofty and beautiful command: be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. As children imitate a beloved parent, so we, as God's beloved children, are to imitate him, and the specific way we imitate him is by loving as he loved.

And the pattern of that love is named: it is the love of Christ, who gave himself up for us. Here is the heart of Christian living. We are called to imitate God, and God's defining act toward us was self-giving love: Christ loved us and gave himself for us. So the love we are to walk in is not a vague sentiment but a self-giving love modeled on the cross, a love that gives itself for the good of others. And the motivation is that we are beloved children, so loved by God that his Son gave himself for us; out of that love received, we are to love others. To walk in love, imitating the self-giving love of Christ, is the calling of every beloved child of God.

Am I walking in love that imitates God, a self-giving love modeled on Christ, who loved me and gave himself up for me, so that out of the love I have received I give myself for the good of others?

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