Children learn by copying. My youngest daughter copies her older sister and I often catch the older one, who's three, deliberately copying me - whether it be the way I'm standing, maybe I'm tapping my foot, or something that I say. When we're growing up we learn by immitating what those around us do.
This week we've looked at Ephesians 5:1-20. Paul is in the middle of giving instructions on how to live as a follower of Jesus. And into the middle he commands that we should follow God's example. The immediate context is forgiveness and love. The underlying principle of Christian behaviour is love. We immitate a God who is not just loving (although He is) - rather God is love. It is not possible to properly understand or define love without reference to God. 1 John 3:16 says, 'This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.'
When God is talking about love it is something that gives, something that puts others first, something that is self-sacrificial. Children learn by copying those they spend time with. As a follower of Jesus, I should be learning what it means to live a life characterised by love - by immitating the character of Jesus, which I read about in the Bible, and as I spend time with other disciples who are also walking this path.
