Freedom During CaptivitySample

AS A CHILD IMITATES ITS FATHER, GOD WANTS YOU TO IMITATE CHRIST!

I love to watch children engage. Kids, for the most part, are pretty accepting, forgiving, and resilient. They can fall and cry and be up and running the next minute. Is it any wonder that this chapter gives us a valuable life lesson to become as a little child?

We realize that as adults, most of our behaviors are learned and although we are all born in sin, children have an innocence about them. Paul didn’t mess around; he was straight-forward as he listed how God does not want His children to behave. God doesn’t want us to be sexually immoral, impure, greedy, obscene, use foolish talk, or tell coarse jokes. “…Rather, we as God’s children, need to have a spirit of thankfulness.”

CAN YOU RELATE?

Paul teaches some valuable lessons for living life today. He tells us that we shouldn’t be fooled by those who excuse such behaviors. Wow! Paul was spot on as in this generation we see these behaviors treated as if they are good and acceptable. This is a trick of the enemy and this is a great example of how he plays on the minds of people.

As we continue to learn how to set ourselves free while in the valleys of life, we must realize that if we are partaking in the things that disappoint God and that God forbids, our valley time will only grow darker. The more light and truth we seek, the more strength we have to overcome!

IN WHAT WAY DOES YOUR LIFE IMITATE GOD?

Let's imagine that God has a huge movie screen that He can drop down over the earth. On that screen is featured each of our activities for all the world to see. If your life was highlighted and your behavior scrolled across the screen, would you cower in shame for what is brought to light, or would you be at peace, knowing the Father in heaven is pleased with your behavior?

Paul is telling those who are dead in sin, to wake up, “…for Christ will give you light!!” Once we come out of sin and accept Christ as The Light and as Savior, those terrible behaviors we think we have hidden from others—will be washed away by God. Now I doubt there will be a movie screen, but there will be a way our sins are exposed. Scripture is very definite about it, so Paul is telling us kindly, to behave as God’s children! 

Later in the chapter, Paul drops a line of wisdom. Not to be drunk with wine, rather be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and making music to the Lord in our hearts—and to thank God for everything! What? Give ‘thanks’ in everything? Yes, even in the valleys of life we are to give thanks. Remember the key that opens the door to our freedom in our dark times of life, is the key of praise!!

Do you wake up with a smile on your face, and have a spirit of gratitude, or do you wake up grumbling and complaining?

I wrote this study to help those who are struggling, but I have no way to know what your individual struggle might be. If it is relational problems in a marriage, the rest of the chapter, is to you, as Paul addresses how a husband and wife should treat each other. When husbands and wives imitate Christ, it not only strengthens the relationship but gives it the strength to go through the valley times of life together!

During these days, let us run to our Heavenly Father, as a small child eagerly awaits the arrival of his or her daddy! Let us imitate God as a daily lifestyle, not just inside the church building, but in the workplace, in the marketplace, and at home, because we are the church!

Let us remember that we represent Christ wherever we are, and as we are faithful, we gain His strength to stand strong when the issues of life try to pull us down.

WHAT WE LEARNED TODAY FOR LIFE’S JOURNEY:   

• We must become like children who are trusting and believing.  
• Do not accept what you know is wrong, as acceptable.  
• Whether a husband or a wife, we can live more Christ-like in our relationships.  
• We imitate Christ more and more when we turn from wrong and do right.