Pentecost 12 (5)

Ephesians 4:30–5:2 (NIV84)

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Last week we had noted that even though we had been born in original sin and inherited a sinful nature that leads us to commit many sins, God has redeemed us and created in us a new man or self created to be like God in righteousness and holiness. As those now dominated by the new man, we are to life as children of God and not as those controlled by the sinful nature.

How are we to do that ?

In the subsequent verses St. Paul tells us what NOT to do: Ephesians 4:25–29 (NIV84)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

If we were to do that, we would grieve the Holy Spirit. We would be acting in ways completely contrary to how we are to live as God’s children.

Instead we are to live a positive life: Ephesians 4:31–5:2 (NIV84)

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

In the center of this, is the key to how we can do this. “Be imitators of God.”

Let’s consider the concept of imitating.

What does it mean to imitate and examples.

b : to copy (someone's or something's behavior, sound, appearance, etc.) He's very good at imitating his father's voice. She can imitate the calls of many different birds.

Imitate

verb (used with object) , im·i·tat·ed, im·i·tat·ing. to follow or endeavor to follow as a model or example: to imitate an author's style; to imitate an older brother. to mimic; impersonate: The students imitated the teacher behind her back. Synonyms: mock, ape

to make a copy of; reproduce closely. to have or assume the appearance of; simulate; resemble.

Here we will focus on the imitating others and the actions that they present.

When I was in college, we had some unique professors who stood out because of their mannerisms and the way they spoke. I am no Rich Little so not very good at imitating other people, but I would sometimes try nevertheless. Other students could be very good at it. So we would (behind the professors’ backs of course), mimic their voices. We could tells if a student was imitating Professor Schroeder, Sullivan, Lehman, Dean Lindemann, and even Professor Strobel (although he didn’t really stand out as much). We considered it fun and somewhat funny. But there was a degree of a lack of respect at times for which we must apologize. Looking back we realize that inspite of their unique voices, mannerisms, and ways of teaching, this was a group of men who genuinely loved the Lord and cared for the students entrusted to their care. I would like to think that even though we may have mimicked them for a cheap laugh, in time we imitated their fine Christian qualities as well.

Have you ever mimicked, imitated, or tried to be like someone else or copy what they did?

Maybe as a child you pretended to be your favorite Halloween character?

Maybe you tried to be like an older sibling?

Perhaps you tried to do the things your parent was doing?

Imitating others and their actions has been going on for thousands of years. Sometimes negatively. Sometimes positively. We have biblical examples of both.

Deuteronomy 18:9 (NIV)

9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.

2 Kings 17:15 (NIV)

15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

1 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NIV)

6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

3 John 11 (NIV)

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

1 Peter 2:21 NIV84

21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1 NIV84

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

In our text, St. Paul commands us to imitate God.

What does this mean?

St. Paul is referring to some of the attributes of God that although we cannot express them perfectly, they are to be an integral part of our lives and influence how we live.

Ephesians 4:31 NIV84

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Ephesians 4:32 NIV84

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Be Kind

Have you seen this slogan or been told this recently?

Movement

Gini Bonnell's movement: Bonnell's movement aims to remind people to be kind to others. Signs featuring proverbs and a red heart are displayed in every US state and 38 countries.Premila Puri's movement: Puri started the Be Kind Movement in 2015 to promote kindness through education. Puri was inspired to create the movement after being bullied in school and wanted to create a kinder school cultureThere are multiple matches for "Be Kind" movements, including one started by Gini Bonnell and another by Premila Puri:

I pledge to myself, On this very day, To try to be kind, In every way. To every person, Big or small, I will help them, If they fall. When I love myself, And others, too, That is the best, That I can do.

It surprises me that the motto “Be Kind” isn’t all that old in popular culture. After all, it is emphasized by St. Paul in our text and is one of many ways we are to imitate God.

The modern movement (in part), is a response to bullying. Instead of picking on people, be nice to them. Originally, it has to do with how to deal with those who have sinned against you.

Sinful nature: retaliate and be mean to those who were mean to you and took advantage of you. Jesus speaks on it in his sermon on the mount: Matthew 5:43–48 (NIV84)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

His parable of the Unmerciful Servant emphasizes the importance of forgiving others.

Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s Prayer that how we forgive or not forgive others has a direct impact on God forgiving us.

Being Kind isn’t just following a modern slogan, it is obeying God’s will for us and imitating how he has treated his enemies by saving us and forgiving us.

Live a Life of Love

We are called God’s dearly loved children and that is what we are. It is something we teach our children to sing and may be one of the first songs they learn. “Jesus Loves Me, This I know.” It is also a song we can sing when we are old.

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know, Though my hair is white as snow. Though my sight is growing dim, Still He bids me trust in Him.

Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in His I’ll go On through life, let come what may, He’ll be there to lead the way.

When the nights are dark and long, In my heart He puts a song. Telling me in words so clear, “Have no fear, for I am near.”

When my work on earth is done, And life’s victories have been won. He will take me home above, Then I’ll understand His love

God’s love for us throughout our lives (young and old) compels us to imitate God and to live a life of love which is marked by sacrificing ourselves for others.

Jesus provides that by his ultimate sacrifice which can never be duplicated but can be imitated. We don’t have to save ourselves and we can’t save others but we can use ourselves to help others.

Romans 12:1–9 NIV84

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.