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| Day 83 Part 6: Imitation, Joy, and Life |
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Imitation
Chapter 5 of Ephesians tells us to be "imitators of God." Isn't it interesting how Paul always tells us to do something that, at the very least, seems impossible? In verses 2-4 of chapter 5, Paul tells us what imitating God looks like. 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 5:3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
The most important thing about imitation is found in verse 2. How do we imitate God? We do what Jesus did. We love and we give ourselves for others. What a concept! What would our churches be like if we all imitated God? What would it look like if Christians were willing to die for each other? How could you impact your community by showing love to your neighbor? Maybe it would help us in our pursuit of unity.
Joy
Go through the book of Phillipians and count how many times the word joy, or some form of it, is used. Did you do it yet? I counted 16. How many did you come up with? When I read through Phillipians it just really jumped out at me that we need joy in our lives. No matter what the circumstances, we should have joy oozing from our pores :-) 4:4Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.
How often should we rejoice? Always! Paul was so full of joy even in his times of suffering that he can say 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 4:13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
What good would suffering do if we didn't have joy while going through it? What good would being prosperous do if we didn't have joy? Joy is an integral part of our Christian walk. I hope that I can say with Paul that I "rejoice in the Lord always."
Life
Colossians is one of my favorite books of the Bible, but because if I continue to go through these books chapter by chapter I will never get done, I'm only going to highlight one verse from Colossians. Chapter 3 verse 3 says, 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. My life that I now live is not mine. I'm dead. My life is hidden with Christ. No one can steal it away from Him. My life is in God, but not only is it in God, it is hidden in God. It is in God with Christ. I don't know that I could ever mine the depths of what this verse means. God is truly amazing! |
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"How could you impact your community by showing love to your neighbor? Maybe it would help us in our pursuit of unity."
This part is funny to me, b/c I just blogged on being a good neighbor this morning, and then a couple of hours later Deb blogs on the same thing. Welcome to our stream of consciousness, Zach!! =) |
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| My life is hidden in Christ. I think that's the key to everything else flowiing as it should. |
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Mike, I couldn't help it. Once I got splashed I had to jump in with both feet :-)
Jay, I couldn't agree with you more. |
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Tom |
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May 31, 2008 at 5:05pm |
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Faith is [the] substantiating of things hoped for, [the] conviction of things not seen. ... By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by [the] word of God, so that that which is seen should not take its origin from things which appear. Hebrews 11:1,3 |
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| Tom...great verse, but I am unclear how you are using it. Could you elaborate? |
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