Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT
Imitating God at any given time is challenging enough, but Paul here says we are to imitate Him in everything we do. One of the things I have been learning is that the most important place to be doing this is at home. I don’t know about you, but my experience is that I tend to struggle most with imitating God in everything I do at home. Is that your experience too? Why is that? This seems to be a common experience. There is a reason we have that saying, “you always hurt the ones you love.”
In my work as a pastor, after a day of working with people, encouraging people, helping hurting people, and investing in people, I want a break from doing that. One of the most convicting stories in the gospels when I find myself thinking this way is Matthew 14:13-14 where Jesus is told that John the Baptist was executed. The NLT reads,
As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Jesus was just told that His cousin John had just been killed. Seeking solace with His disciples He retreats to a remote area to be alone with His disciples. But He did not get that time to grieve, pray, and recharge with His friends. Instead He finds a crowd of people who are looking for Him. What did he do? He gave Himself to them and in the following verses He performs one of His best known miracles, the feeding to the five thousand.
If that is how Jesus responds, how can I justify withholding my best from my family?
Jesus’ credibility was in great part due to the consistency in His relationships. He was always at His best, and as His children, He expects us to always be willing to give our best.
Learning To Be Full Of Grace And Truth. 