I was reading in Eph 5 this morning and it starts out like this,
Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
I stopped and thought about that. Why do you think it is so hard for us to be imitators of God? Why in a stressful situation am I more likely to imitate the old man, than Christ who dwells within me? I came to the conclusion that it is related with the second part of the verse. “as beloved children”. If I am secure, absolutely secure in the love of God, my Father, than I am a WHOLE lot less likely to react as if I have something to prove.
As I read on these verses jumped out at me,
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
There is a stark contrast between someone with alcohol in their system and some one who is filled with THE Spirit of God.
Debauchery means according to Websters, “excessive indulgence to sensual pleasures”.
Someone who gets “filled/drunk” on wine or other false gods, will have little to no power to restrain themselves from indulging in the harmful, sensual pleasures of sin.
However, when we are filled with the Spirit, we are given the power to overcome fears, encouraging each other and ourselves by speaking and living the word! Or, you could say, being “imitators of God”!
It is a whole lot easier for Deanna to fall into a sinful mindset, and not trusting God to give an all surpassing power to imitate Him, but O the rewards of trusting him, moment by moment, setting my thoughts on His love, and care for me, the grace that covers my sin of unbelief and the kindness that leads me to repent of it!
How lovely is our Father!
