Ephesians 5:1-2 — Love like Jesus. Smell like Jesus.

READ THIS: Ephesians 5:1-2

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 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.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

We talked yesterday about replacing the sinful way with the Godly way (and high-key we talked about this earlier with replacing old clothes with new ones), and now Paul gives us the ultimate example. God!

God's example is doing exactly that. He replaces US! He looks at what isn't so good, and He replaces it with something beautiful. The clearest example is through Jesus. God looked at humans, said we weren't really cutting it, and then He sent Jesus as a baby. That baby turned into the perfect guy, and He lived the God-life that we weren't. The life of love! Everything He did was done for love of God. Then, He died out of love for God's people, so that now when God looks at Christians, He doesn't see us...He sees Jesus!

We have been replaced so that we can be a better thing. But, the thing is, Jesus gave up His life so that we could live (both well in this life and for forever). Are we willing to give up ourselves, including those things from yesterday like bad-talking, so that we can live like Jesus? 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. What is a fragrant offering?

2. If you were to describe your life right now as a smell, what would it smell like? Good? Bad? Stinky cheese? Field of lilies?
 
TRY THIS:
 
Try today to live your life in a way that smells like Jesus. So decide right now how you would describe the smell Jesus' life had....got it?....what about now?....okay! So live your life today in a way that would smell like that!

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