Authentic Leaders Are Led
Be an Imitator – Part 2

Scripture Reading:  Ephesians 5:2-7

Key Verse:  Ephesians 5:1

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

As we continue the thoughts from yesterday’s devotional, let’s look at some of the characteristics that we are to imitate in our daily lifestyles.  The first one is obvious but very difficult to be consistent in: Love.  We must imitate God’s love, developing a lifestyle of love in all our ways.

            In verse 2 the apostle helps us understand what this love should look like: “…just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Seeing Jesus’ sacrificial love for us helps us realize this love is not the romantic feelings that we often associate with the love.  This Christ like love is not something that you normally feel; it is something that you do.  If we are going to imitate God’s love, we are going to lay our feelings aside and act upon what the Spirit is nudging us to do!  Jesus did not feel like going to the cross.  He pleaded with the Father to find another way.  Jesus relinquished His desires to the perfect purposes of His heavenly Father.

            Will you determine to imitate God’s love today to your family and co-workers?  Before you agree, be sure to think through the fact that it will probably mean doing something contrary to what you naturally would want to do.  You may be asked to show loving-kindness to a person who is far from deserving of such treatment!  If you would love like Jesus, you will need to do a lot of imitating!

Father, with your strength to sustain me, I will put my love into action today.  Open my eyes to the person or need you want me to see.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.