Walk In Love

Walk in Love

Ephesians 5: 1-2

Take a moment to consider those who have greatly impacted your life. Surely, we have all had a family member, friend, or mentor that we looked-up to, someone whose influence created a desire for us to become like them. For me, it was my grand-father. My childhood was difficult following the separation and divorce of my parents. My grand-father became my role model, my mentor, and counselor. As I watched his life, I had a compelling desire to be like him – I wanted to be the man he had become.

Likely, in our spiritual lives, there has been at least one person who has impacted your life, creating a desire to develop the kind of walk with the Lord that closely resembled theirs. For me, there have been many. I still have mentors and friends, whom I admire, that continually challenge my walk with the Lord.

Each of these mentors are beneficial in our lives, especially during our formative years. Paul well understood the need and benefit of godly mentors. He served as a mentor to Timothy, Titus, and others as he walked with the Lord. While each of these have their place, none can compare to the influence of our heavenly Father. In our text today, Paul urges the Ephesian believers to be imitators of God, our Father. Others can be beneficial, but the Father sets the ultimate example every believer should strive to pursue.

As we move through this fifth chapter, Paul will reveal several ways in which we are to imitate the Father. Our text today reveals exhortations to: Walk in Love.

I. The Commitment Expected (1) – Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. As we examine this simple statement, we cannot miss the commitment is demands. Paul declares we are to be followers of God. One must pause to reflect on the connection made between this declaration and the former thoughts revealed in the previous chapter. Paul had spoken much about obligations and responsibilities as believers living and walking among the world. In light of those obligations, we are therefore expected to be followers of God as His dear children. Let’s consider this commitment a bit closer. Notice:

A. The Admonition (1a) – Be ye therefore followers of God. That seems simple enough, but Paul speaks of great significance here. The word followers literally means to be imitators. We are admonished to imitate the God we serve. That is a very tall order. Time will not permit, nor do we have the ability to comprehend all that He is, but we must strive to imitate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Matt.5:48 – Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Lev.19:2 – Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. 2 Cor.3:18 – But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 1 Pet.1:15 – But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.

We will never obtain sinless perfection in this life, but we must strive to imitate the Lord we serve. We must seek His holiness each day, denying the flesh, and striving for maturity in Christ. Those whom we invest in are not seeking perfection; but they are seeking sincerity and a genuine desire to maintain a godly life.

B. The Identification (1b) – Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. Paul revealed a compelling reason for such commitment to following the Lord, literally imitating Him – we are His dear children, beloved by the Father. We have been adopted into the family of God – those who were outside of the favor and mercy of God, have now been placed within the family. We have been adopted of the Father and belong to Him. Eph.1:5-6 – Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. We are His dear children, and by adoption through His grace, He is now our heavenly Father. Rom.8:15 – For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

It is natural that children bear characteristics of their father. When the father presents a witness of character and integrity, the children do well to imitate the life and walk of their father. How much more should we feel compelled to imitate the righteous example of God our Father? As His dear children, we are expected to imitate Him, becoming more like Him as we grow and mature in our faith.