Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” vss. 1-2
Proverbs 9:1-3
Those who wonder how they shall relate to others in these cantankerous times have an abundance of guidance from scripture. These words from Ephesians capture perfectly the actions and attitudes that will govern our words and behavior. Paul says, “Be imitators of God…and live in love, as Christ loved us…” We might not like to hear such words, mostly because they’re calling us to a higher standard, but Paul is deadly serious. And lest we think, “Oh well, of course, I can love all people, but I can still say nasty things about them,” Paul has already put that notion to rest with his plain admonition, “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” When we finally get our heads on straight and actually start imitating God, the resulting spirit of kindness sets us free. We don’t have to correct all of our acquaintances’ faulty political conclusions. We don’t have to win every debate. We can simply listen and smile, say “Thanks for sharing,” and then tell them how much we love them! It’s an absolutely wonderful way to live!
Thought for the Day: When is it easiest to say nasty things about others?
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