“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

          They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. And as children often look up to their parents and mimic their actions, Paul calls us to look at our Heavenly Father and imitate Him. Thankfully, God became a man and walked among us so that we might learn how we ought to live in this fallen world. And although we will never fully achieve true Christ-likeness in this world, God imputed to us His Son’s righteousness and gave us His Spirit to enable us to “walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6) And how did Christ walk in love? By loving sacrificially. He put everyone’s wants and needs ahead of His own. The lame, the sick, the blind, the sinful, all of these He loved. Even the religious leaders, with whom He had many run-ins, were the objects of His love.

Our sinful nature does not appreciate this type of instruction from the Lord. The “self” has convinced us that love is meant for its own pleasure, so we imitate those around us and seek love that gratifies our flesh. But that is not love. That is lust and self-gratification. When we are only seeking our own interests then we are never truly satisfied. This leads us to explore satisfaction outside of God’s example of true sacrificial love. When a person seeks love out of a selfish motive the natural progression is covetousness (I want what isn’t mine), uncleanness (I entertain the thought of making it mine), and fornication (I take what isn’t mine).  We begin to covet other relationships and seek to satisfy ourselves. We exhaust ourselves trying to do things we know we shouldn’t, then we expend even more energy trying to cover our tracks.

But if we follow Christ’s example, then all of that energy we used to waste trying to fulfill our own desires will be redirected towards loving others. Then we can dedicate our lives to bringing fulfillment to those around us. This kind of life not only pleases God but it will be counter-cultural in a self-seeking, pleasure-driven world, and ultimately provide an example of the all-satisfying love that is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

In Exodus chapter 30, God instructed Moses to make a holy anointing oil for the priesthood from a variety of sweet-smelling spices, and told him not to use it on anyone but the priests. In this way, the priests would be known among the people by their aroma. As they walked through the camp, even if they were not in their priestly garments, you would still be able to pick up the sweet smell of the anointing oil. In much the same way, God is calling us to live as saints in a world full of sinners. Though we are still subject to sin, He encourages us to “lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us,” (Heb. 12:1) and “…make it our aim…to be well pleasing to Him.” (2 Cor. 5:9)

 The world is watching us, and would love nothing more than to see the saints “dancing with the devil” so that they can point out our errors and defame the name of Christ. God has enabled us to be free of our sinful stench if we live our lives as a fragrant offering to Him. And for that very reason Paul is urging the saints to behave fittingly, and love sacrificially.

“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”

Ephesians 5:3-4

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

John 15:13

“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

2 Corinthians 2:15