Paul’s challenge to follow the example of God and live a life of love is pretty mind-blowing for us to take in. We are all too aware of our sinfulness – “but I’m not like God!” How can we, imperfect people that we are, hope to witness to the love of God in such a way that leads others to Him? All too often we identify with the comment of Mahatma Gandhi: I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Paul does not want us to be hypocrites, pretending to be like God when we are not. He wants us to live out our God-given identities as ‘dearly loved children’ (Eph 5:1). God is love and His love is lavished upon us. As Peter reminds us, the Christian life is not meant to be lived in our own strength; rather, we become those who ‘participate in the divine nature.’ (2 Pet 1:4) God lives in us by His Spirit. The Message version of Eph 5:1-2 says, ‘Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behaviour from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love.’
Children learn by imitating others. They make plenty of mistakes on the way, but there is ongoing change and transformation. The average vocabulary of a 3 year old is 200 words, of a 5 year old 2000 words! How does the child learn? By listening, hearing, repeating and talking. A toddler learns to walk by attempting this solo effort again and again, copying what they have seen others do. We don’t expect instant perfection from our children, but give them encouragement and urge them to persevere. In the same way, God reminds us that we love because He first loved us; the family resemblance is there, however often we fail. Just as the heavens opened at the baptism of Jesus and He heard the words, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’ (Matt 3:17); just as on the Mount of Transfiguration, the words were heard, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’ (Matt 17:5), so too we need to hear the words that God loves us with the same kind of unfailing, unchanging love. Only people who know they are truly loved have the freedom and courage to love like God loves.
