Make it a great day, or not! The choice is yours.

Thank you for stopping by! This post is adapted from a sermon that I taught, it's long but worth the read. I would appreciate it greatly if you read the entirety and even posted some dialogue about it in the comments.

In highschool—who did you look up to? Who did you want to be like?

For me it was the star quarterback. Not because he played football, but because he was also because he was the lead in the musical. This guy was able to cross a stereotype of high school with such grace that he was well liked by almost the entire school. He understood how to relate to the people around him, and wasn't afraid to do what he wanted to do.  

My principal even spoke very highly of him; he too was someone that I greatly looked up to.  I had an oddly good relationship with my principal. He was very well liked and respected by teachers and students alike. Conn McCartan was a support to me and the Bible Study that met, understanding my view and willing to work with me on potentially disrupting events (such as SYATP) and didn't exasperate our meeting even though pubic high school isn't the most friendly place for Christian gatherings. 

I ran into Conn once in the hallway close to my class graduation. I asked him how he was doing, expecting the normal Minnesota 'Oh Good' and to continue walking. But he stopped me and looked me straight in the eye, unexpectedly. With his eyes welling up, he explained to me that he didn't have a feel for our class. That every other class had graduated had an overarching feeling of what they were about, and he couldn't figure our what ours was. He was clearly upset. It wasn't until then that I realized how much he cared about the students at his school. What an example of servant leadership, to be open and honest with a student. 

I still look up to Conn as an example of a great leader; unless he was walking down some stairs, then he was always Conn descending! 

We all have people that we look up to, even want to emulate in certain ways. These are just two examples from my life during high school.

But there's an even better example to emulate.

In Ephesians chapter 5, the apostle Paul urges us to walk in God's example, to look up and desire to emulate the life that we saw in Jesus as the ultimate role model. 

Ephesians 5:1-20
5 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.3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:“Wake up, sleeper,   rise from the dead,   and Christ will shine on you.”15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine,which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Someone who is filled with the Spirit (v18-21) is someone with temperance, self-control and joy. 

How does Paul call us to be imitators of God?
As children, as seen in Ephesians 1:5:

In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Do children imitate their parents? I look and often act just like my father. People make comments all of the time. But often times, he can speak into my life in a more impact-full way, because I can be so similar to him. He understands me, because I think similar to him.

Yes, of course! Children act like their parents, that's natural.

We were called into adoption by God, called to be his child. But unlike an earthly understanding of that. God’s love is beyond anything! If you are familiar with Ephesians be reminded of to God’s love for us should be overwhelming! (Here is a really good book if you want to know even more about God's Crazy Love for us."

There are a lot of passages that talk about God’s love and our response. Ultimately, if our Love for God is genuine, we should have the desire to walk in Love. Paul wants to move us to the cross, looking at the equally overwhelming love that Jesus had for the world.

We obviously fail to “love people like Jesus.” That’s not an easy thing to do, especially not to maintain as an attitude. Sometimes I'm really good at it for five minutes. But we have amazing grace from God to pick up and carry on when we fail miserably. Not to excuse that behavior, but to remember that in a pattern of love even when we do mess up - grace abounds. Love yourself, and then we can export that love in everything we do.

Jesus loved all the time. Think about every time Jesus is doing anything in the Bible; how much he sacrificed because of his love - Time and resources, even his own blood and body.

We should react with the utmost desire to mirror that love in more then just a material way.

• Loving one another (Jn 13:34)
• Forgiving each other (Eph 4:32)
• Giving financially (2 Cor 8:9)
• Spreading the gospel (2 Cor 5:14-21)
• Being patient (1 Cor 13:4; Eph 4:2)
• Loving those who really annoy you (Eph 2:11-22)
• Repent of judgement and hostility (Eph 4:29)

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

Galations 2:20

In verse 8 of Ephesians, Paul does not say that “you were once in darkness” but instead says “you once were darkness, but now you are light.” 

The things that Paul mentions here are describing the “dark” love: sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and filthy speech. In fact, they are not suitable (v4) and should not be found among you.

How long ago was this written? How much of this list still applies?  Paul. Nailed it.

Here the impurity is kinda generic. It’s just filth. “Any impurity” moves it away from just being sexual and is making the point that we need to be holy as God is holy. (1 Peter 1:16) We need to kill sin (Col 3:5) and flee from it (1 Cor 6:18)! 
Greed is desiring anything more than God. I cannot lie, this is something that I struggle with, moreso when it is put this way. It’s a heart condition that I am pretty confident that we all struggle with in some way or another.

Corrupt Speech is pretty straight. I think you understand this. We should be known for giving thanks, it is impossible to give thanks and to sin at the same time. Like the rudder of a ship, let’s be turned the right way in our speech. 

Paul says in 5-6 that those who persist in the kingdom of darkness will not inherit the kingdom of God. So this stuff is pretty important! Verse 7 says that we must not become partners with those in darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:14 is a further explanation of this idea. 

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Yes, we need to be salt and light, we need to be friends with people who think and believe different than us — but that doesn't mean that we encourage and partake in sin to do so. We need to “walk as Children of light” by having an identity of a deep rooted, Christ change.

The last verses (15-20) explain how to pay attention to how it is that you are walking [emphasis mine].

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine,which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Toughest part of this passage? The word always.

Always give thanks to God the Father for everything.

That can be pretty tough. Health issues, friendships that have gone yucky or awry, deaths, global disasters are all things that we cannot explain this side of heaven. 

That’s one of the hardest things about Faith, is that belief that God is doing everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — but I know personally coming out of seemingly impossible situations that God can work through every situation no matter how dark it may seem at the time. I promise!

If we profess belief and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is in us, we are the light of God. This week, I am challenged to pray for growth in one area to be better filled with the spirit. Where do I, where do you need to ask the Holy Spirit to truly take control?

By walking as Children of Light, by walking in God's ways, by trying to emulate Christ — we not only overcome our shortcomings through Christ but we can shine brightly into the darkness and make Him known! If you lived your life in the love of Christ so that it gushed out of you, if you lived your Christian life before your work life, or sports life — what would the results be? 

Let the Spirit show you how to better emulate Christ this week, love in a way that can only be explained by your chasing after Jesus in a full sprint. People will notice you are different, if you're willing to be different.