“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 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.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NAS)
Bobbie and I strolled, arm-in-arm, through the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. This was our first real vacation in 10 years and we were enjoying it thoroughly. The fifty-five acres of Butchart floral displays, offered us spectacular views as we meandered along the paths and expansive lawns. It is a horticultural experience that has delighted tourists, from all over the world, for 100 years. This exquisite masterpiece of gardening is a remarkable testimony to the beauty of God’s handiwork. It is truly one of the “loveliest corners in the world.”
One of the most memorable points of this vacation was that the gardens emitted such wonderful fragrances. We could linger anywhere along the paths and enjoy the sweet fragrance of flowers in full bloom. Butchart Gardens is more than beautiful landscapes. They smelled good too! As we walked along the paths, I thought about how great it would be to have a garden like this in my backyard. I wondered how I could duplicate it on a smaller scale.
Note Paul’s words: “Be imitators God . . . and walk in love.” How do disciples reproduce that? We imitate him in the same way little children reproduce their parents’ behavior. Our example is Christ who demonstrated love by offering himself as a sacrifice on our behalf. Christ’s disciples are more than religious landscape artists. It is not mere mimicry that Paul encourages, but the reality of Christ’s love reproduced in our lives.
Imitating God and walking in sacrificial love will create an enchanting “garden” for others to experience. It seems reasonable that since Christ’s loving sacrifice emitted a fragrant aroma, so should our sacrificial lives.
Dear Father, thank you for the fragrant sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Forgive us for our faults and failures. Empower us to imitate Him in sacrificial love. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today as you imitate Christ,