Sword in the Fire

I. Imitate God. A. Walk in love. THEREFORE be imitators of God as dear children. 2 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. By using the image of children, Paul evokes our understanding of God as Father. Just as earthly children will imitate their earthly father, we as children of the Father must imitate Him. Jesus exhorted us, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Just as Christ reflects the Father by nature, those who are in Christ are to reflect the Father by grace. We are also to love as Christ loved. Christ loved sacrificially. The love of Christ is seen in forgiveness and sacrifice. “No greater love …than a man lay down his life for his brother.” To love one’s enemies especially is to imitate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. To love also is an act of worship. Our lives are an acceptable sacrifice when we love one another. It’s amazing how often Paul uses th