Be Imitators of God – Walk in Love Ephesians 4:17-5:33
Paul puts in stark contrast how we used to live in our sin nature or our old self and how we should live in our new self. He shows us how we can be imitators of God and how we should walk in love.
The Old Self
…futility of their thoughts… ignorance… darkened in their understanding… alienated from the life of God… hardness of their hearts… callous… promiscuity… every kind of impurity with greediness… old self corrupted by deceitful desires… putting away lying… be angry and sinning… thief stealing… foul language… grieving God’s Holy Spirit… bitterness… anger and wrath… shouting… slander… malice… sexual immorality… any impurity… greed… coarse, foolish, or crude talk… sexually immoral person… impure person… greedy person (that is, an idolater)…
The New Self:
…renewed in the spirit of your minds… put on the new self, created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth… speaking the truth… members of one another… be angry and do not sin… not let the sun go down on your anger… no longer steal; instead, do honest work… share with anyone in need… only what is good for building up… benefits those who hear… be kind… compassionate… forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ… be imitators of God, as dearly loved children… walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God… thanksgiving… live as children of light (goodness, righteousness, and truth)… find out what is pleasing to the Lord… no fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them… be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity… understand what the Lord’s will is… be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything… submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ…
Therefore, as we reflect on the contrast between our old and new selves, let us intentionally choose to put off the destructive behaviors of the past and put on the new self, walking in love and striving to reflect the very character of our God.
Father, thank You that in Christ, I am Your dearly loved child. Help me today to put off the old patterns of thinking and behaving that dishonor You. Renew my mind with Your truth. Fill me with Your Spirit so that my words build up, my actions demonstrate love, and my life reflects Your character. May I walk in the kind of love that Christ showed us—sacrificial, serving, and glorifying to You. Amen.
