Hey everyone,
During the month of March we have been working our way through the Book of Ephesians. This last lesson was particularly fun so I thought is was worth posting. We were reading out of Ephesians 5:1-21. Now as I was putting this message together I was forced to recall just how nerdy I was as a child/youth. Let me tell you it was a painful recollection. In verses 1-3 the Bible talks about the fact that we are called to imitators of God, this is where my painful recollections ensued. I thought back to all the people that I imitated as I was growing up. Some weren't that bad: Dirk Nowitzki, Kip Strawbridge (wagon master Shep), Brett Favre: see so far nothing too crazy, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Andy "Brink" Brinker....... HUH, hold the phone. Some of you might be wondering about the last two, trust me I am still trying to figure that out myself. I do remember, being a young guy and wanting nothing more than to have the hair styles of the Taylor boys on Home Improvement, needless to stay this is no longer something that I'm trying to obtain, see that helps it seem a little less strange right???? No, okay didn't think so. Andy "Brink" Brinker was the main character of my favorite made for T.V. Disney Movie, he was a killer roller blader that I would watch him for inspiration when ever I was in the mood to hit the streets and shred it up. Now i know what you're thinking, rollerblading is not cool, I agree, it is super cool. : )
It was easy for me to view these people and to imitate them in my life, it seemed to always be more of a struggle for me to do this with God. Why is that, is it just me? Would it have been more desirable for me to imitate God if I could envision Him as a Super Boss Rollerblader flying down a half-pipe? (Help Me I'm Nerdy).......... After pondering my childhood for I don't know how long, I got back in the Word. Found the truth in verses 8-10 and went from there.
We as a group discovered that God doesn't want us to imitate Him by growing our hair like Him, He wants us to cling to Him and to allow His character and love to pour from us. To stop putting ourselves and our desires before Him and to truly be "sold-out" for Him in all areas of our life. Imagine the difference in the world today if Christians truly imitated God over Jonathan Taylor Thomas, I love you JTT but God should win this battle.
Key Scriptures:
Ephesians 5:1-21
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
In His Grips (not JTT's),
Kevin Hasenfus
