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Imitation

             Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2) 

Chapters and verses make referencing Scripture easier but understanding it harder. As a writer, chapters are supposed to be logical units of story or exposition. Yes, they may continue what came before, but there’s some logic to it. The break between Ephesians 4 and Ephesians 5 is one of those illogical divisions. More modern Bible publishers have added subject headings that (to me) often make more sense. Ephesians 4:17 through 5:20 seem to comprise one section. If that’s the case, the passage above probably simply continues the idea of living in a way that does not grieve the Holy Spirit.

This passage brings to mind pictures and videos of little boys with shaving cream on their faces, shaving “just like Daddy,” and little girls putting on makeup and their mother’s shoes. It also brings to mind the clip in the movie Jaws in which Captain Brody’s son imitates him, and the end of Harry Chapin’s Cats in the Cradle, “He’d grown up just like me, yeah, my boy was just like me.” Closer to home for me is how I catch myself either being like Mom (which is usually a positive thing) or like Dad (which I tend to see as negative.)

A line has followed me through all of my books, “Don’t let them teach you to hate…You become like those you hate.” Zheann later figures out that you also become like those you love. Others have said that you become like the people with whom you associate and people whose books you read. It has even been said that criminologists must be wary lest their study of the monsters behind bars lead to monsters growing in their own minds and hearts.

While the examples above are good and bad, this is the idea behind this verse. As we follow the example of God and imitate Christ, as silly, or cute, or ridiculous as we may look and feel, we are establishing patterns. Psychologists tell us that the more we practice, the deeper the pattern or “rut” gets and whether for good or for evil. We need to be careful what ruts we allow to develop, and Paul makes the excellent suggestion that the behavior of the Father and the Son is a great example of good ruts, and it prevents us from damaging our relationship with the Spirit.

And the question that seems to steer the rut is whether we love the other person enough to sacrifice our egos and our wants to meet their needs.

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