Welcome to Hank’s Place – In the New Year
Looking for something ‘new’ to do in this new year? Allow me to direct you to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:1 and 2: “Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as His beloved sons and daughters. And continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for He surrendered His life as a sacrifice for us.”
Well, that certainly sounds preposterous! Paul is indicating we already have a perfect example of how to treat other believers. That much I can understand. But for him to tell me to ‘imitate God,’ well that’s mind blowing. Be an imitator — of God.
Paul did not write, “Think about God” or “Admire God” or “Adore God,” although these are all good. Paul calls us to practical action, to actual “doing” something. How can we, puny humans that we all are, possibly make God Himself our example and model and imitate Him? More than wearing a WWJD bracelet or T-shirt, but acting in situations just as Jesus or the Father would?
Anyone can make the conscious choice to let God be their example to admire, but actually imitating Him?
I need some answers! I have a suggestion: that we take note of Romans 13:14: “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the lusts of the flesh.” It’s having Christ within us that makes imitation possible. Rather than slinking away from Paul’s words, “Be imitators of God” we put on the Lord Jesus, the God who is dwelling within us. Some might call it ‘manning up’ in Christ. Rather than allowing for weak flesh to say it is too hard, that we are not able, we put on Jesus Christ, consciously.
Jesus is our example as He has loved us and has given Himself for us. We put Him on and are able to display the same kind of self-giving love. Impossible by rule or regulation, but possible by Christ in us, by the Holy Spirit working His work through us.
And what happens is that God’s behavior towards us becomes the measure of our behavior towards one another, in the new year — and always.
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ my friend, surrendered to His extravagant love — and you will love one another, as Christ has loved us. A bit here, a bit there. God’s behavior towards us becoming more and more our measure for our behavior toward others. Let’s do it — let’s COME ALIVE!
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