Renewal
Renew Your Behavior

Be Like Christ in His Love

Sunday February 12, 2023 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

Ephesians 5:1-2

THE MESSAGE

In this message I will share with you that you should be an imitator of Jesus. You are what you imitate and what you imitate shapes your behavior. At the end of the sermon, I will share with you three things you will do if you are an imitator of God.

THE SCRIPTURE

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. -Ephesians 5:1-2

Imitation and Innovation

Imitation is endemic and innovation is scarce (Harvard Business Review). Imitation happens more than you think.

Take for example:

1. Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard
2. Rideshare: Uber, Lyft
3. Voice-controlled AI: Alexa, Echo
4. Wallet: Apple Pay, Google Pay

What are the differences? Similar services, different companies.

WHO DO YOU IMITATE?

Innovative Imitation:

1. Apple is cool and other companies tend to copy Apple.
2. Tesla is cool and other companies tend to copy Tesla.
3. People are willing to pay more for cool and good products.
4. Imitate Christ before you innovate. Jesus is the real deal.

Jesus is cool!

1. He gave free wine to everyone.
2. He had lots of friends; He hung out with people that were considered bad.
3. He was a chill guy who didn't do much His first 30 years.
4. He then became a demon slayer (cast out demons).
5. He walked on the water.
6. He died for everyone.
7. He rose from the dead.

Imitators of God

1. Be original by scanning the original copy of God's character.
2. Imitation is not a senseless copying but an intentional innovation.
3. Make God your model and example-not just an admirer of God, but living like Him.
4. To imitate is a call to continued action approved by God. We were commanded to Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. -Ephesians 4:32
5. We imitate God and innovate how we live out Christ's teachings. (Instead of walking an extra mile, you may drive an extra mile.)

Dear children

1. Children are natural imitators. (You do not force your children to imitate you, they do it willingly.)
2. As a child of God, act according to the nature of God.
3. Be a representative of God: People will be compelled to pause and ask if there is a God When they see His character reflected in you.

Walk In love

1. Jesus is our example on how to walk in love. (Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.)
2. Display the same kind of self-giving love.
3. Likeness is a product of love. We become somewhat like those we love. ( My wife and I have become alike in our choices since we got married. We are more similar now than before our marriage.)

Offering and sacrifice

1. Sweet-smelling aroma

   When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. -Leviticus 2:1

2. You are accepted through the merits of Christ.
3. A sacrifice: "A sin-offering, a victim for sin; A sacrificial act in which the blood of an animal was poured out as an atonement for sin.