Be ye therefore imitators of God, as loved children; And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

I. Wiggle, Waddle, and Walk

2:2 not in ignorant disobedience

2:10 in good works

4:1 worthy of our calling (Reign of the Servant Kings)

4:17 not in the profitlessness of your own thinking...5:2 in Godlike love

5:8 as children of light

5:15 as wise (right objectives and right means of obtaining them)

A. Purpose

B. Persistence

C. Practice

II. Why Must I Be a Teenager in Love?

God's purpose and our final exam 1:4 chosen that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Our past experience 3:17 being rooted and grounded in love

To display God's glory 3:19 comprehend and know the love of Christ, that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God.

God likes it Ge 8:20 And Noah...offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour

Beats Burgers Mr 12:33 love Him with all...love neighbor as oneself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices

Way to worship Ro 12:1 mercies of God, present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, your liturgical service.

Vertical Heb 13:15 By him let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips giving thanks to his name

Horizontal Heb 13:16 But to do good and to share forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Php 4:18  received from Epaphroditus the things from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

III. Love is a Many-Splendored Thing

A. Agape Love = self-sacrificially doing what's in another's best interest, even while not-appreciated and rejected

B. Imitating God: Rm 5:8; Mt 5:45; 1Jn 4:7-11; forgives; creatively takes the initiative; loyally loves; gives/sacrifices; responds to needs; weathers storms of rejection; lavishly blesses; communicates what's in our best interest; empowers; shepherds; protects and defends; disciplines: teaches consequences in the school of experience; justly judges

C. Pleasing God by Pleasing Others

4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love

4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, [even] Christ:

4:16 From Christ the whole body...makes increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. If children naturally imitate their earthly parent(s), why not their heavenly parent?

2. How many of God's characteristics could we imitate? Do we waddle or walk? Why?

3. Should one commit random acts of love?