Ephesians 5

Learning to Love Like Jesus – Reflections on Ephesians 5

Imitators of God: Starting With Love

As we opened up Ephesians 5, the words that gripped us right away were these:

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1–2)

We didn’t need to read much farther than that to feel challenged and moved. What does it really mean to imitate God? That’s not a light or casual instruction—it’s a deeply personal invitation. But before we even ask how, we have to sit with why.

We’re called to imitate God because we are His dearly loved children. We love because He first loved us. Jesus didn’t just say He loved us—He showed it. His love took the form of selfless, sacrificial action. He gave Himself up completely, not for those who had earned it, but for all of us who never could. That’s the foundation for everything else.

Imitating Jesus: From Love to Action

Once we understand the depth of Christ’s love, we can begin to consider what it looks like to imitate Him in everyday life. One of the places we landed was this: Jesus had hard conversations.

Think about how He talked with Peter—telling him he would deny Him—and yet later restored him in love. Or how He challenged the Pharisees when their actions hurt others. Jesus never avoided truth, but He also never abandoned love.

So we asked ourselves, what would it look like if we were willing to step into hard conversations too? Not to win arguments or prove a point, but to protect, restore, and love others well?

Another example from Jesus’ life that inspired us was how radically inclusive His ministry was. He welcomed people from all backgrounds—fishermen, tax collectors, women, the demon-possessed, the broken, the overlooked. Like Mary Magdalene, who had been deeply afflicted but was transformed by walking with Him.

The invitation of Jesus is open to all, but it’s also transformational. We’re invited to come as we are, but not stay as we are. Walking with Jesus means being changed by Him—and that’s love in action.

Loving Like Jesus Today

We also reflected on how Jesus often withdrew to solitary places to pray. That might not be the first example we think of when we talk about love, but it’s powerful. Setting aside time to pray for someone—to intercede for their healing, their heart, their future—is one of the most selfless acts we can offer.

Sometimes we say, “I’ll pray for you,” and then forget. But what if we actually stopped right then and there, or set a reminder in our phone, and followed up with them later? Those intentional moments become tangible expressions of God’s love through us.

Living in the Light

As Ephesians 5 continues, Paul talks about stepping out of darkness and living in the light. This isn’t just moral language—it’s about living transparently, joyfully, and freely as people who have been loved and transformed.

So the question we’re carrying forward this week—and one we invite you to consider too—is this:

What does it look like for us to imitate God's love today?

Let’s look at the life of Jesus again and again. Let’s see how He spoke, how He moved toward others, how He healed, how He welcomed, how He prayed—and then let’s walk in His footsteps.

Because we are dearly loved children.

And now, we get to live lives of love.