Good morning all Greetings from our new ministry office here in beautiful north Las Vegas, Nevada. As we are all moved in and have done a few of the touristiy things, I have seen no shortage of Elvis impersonators walking the streets wanting people to take pictures with them, at a small fee of course. I was struck by how many people will imitate celebrities and others yet we are told in scripture who we are to imitate.
Ephesians 5:1 says “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. (NKJV). We are to imitate the actions of our Father. Before I comment further I want to show you the same text in the Message.
“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.”
As Chrisitans we are to act like our Father. Jesus said He only did the things He saw the Father say and do, can we then do any less? 1 Peter 1:14-16 tells us “As obedient child do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (NASB) Now I know what some of you are already saying, “Here comes the holiness take on scripture” I will confess I come from a Pentecostal Holiness background, and have struggled with this concept. As a sinful person, how can I be holy like my Father?
First realize you can’t do anything in your own power, it takes His. However, every tool we need is found in scripture to help us live a holy, set apart life for God. Verse 2 tells us to walk in love as Christ loved us. Walking in love means how we interact with others in the church and outside the church. If we are walking in love, we don’t lie on people or to people, we don’t judge people, but love them with the love that Christ loved us. In a world divided by politics, religion, and other issues we as Christians need to focus on walking in the Love of Christ on a daily basis.
I encourage you to read verses 3-5 to see love is to change our interaction and how we even talk. The message renders part of it that “Thanksgiving is our dialect” Let me leave you with three quick thoughts to help you today.
1. We walk in love (Agape) toward our God and Father, Jesus, His Son, and our elder brother!
2. We walk in love (Agape) toward each other.
3. Speak a language of thanksgiving daily, so you can speak life to not only yourself, but others.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Pastor Eric
