The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 5:1-4, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an

offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you,

as is proper among saints;

4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not

fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”

Has anyone ever said to you, “You are just like your dad”? What they mean is either, you look like him or you act like him. You remind them of someone else.

The biblical word for imitator is ??????? mimetes, a mimic. It is one who portrays the character, mood, or ideas of another. In the case of mimicking God, the intention is not that we should simply act the part; rather, it is that we might truly become like Him. It’s not a superficial portrayal; it’s the real thing.

So, what is God like? He is love; and we are to love others as He loves us. God’s love was manifested most graphically in His giving of His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Which of your children would you give in exchange for a neighbor –especially, an obnoxious, foul-mouthed, greedy neighbor? But, God did.

God gave His Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly went to the Cross for those who were immoral, greedy, filthy, foul-mouthed and generally noxious. In His death, He took all of our sins upon Himself, making it possible for us to become loving

of God and all mankind regardless of their lifestyles.

Recently, I learned of an email sent to a close friend of mine. The sender was brief, but simply said, “Thanks for the seed that was well planted.” The recipient of the email focused on a time many years ago when my friend had led the sender to faith in Christ. Who would have known that the sender would become a friend to missionaries and share with them God’s love, as my friend had shared with the sender? Love produces some strange and wonderful situations!

We all want to be loved. And the way to be loved is to love others. “God loved us and sent His Son.” When we yield our lives to Him, He saturates us with His love; and His love in us spills over onto others. Wouldn’t you like to be a mimic of Him?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”