Hey there, Superkid!
While some of us are celebrating freedom this July, all of us, no matter where we live, can celebrate the real freedom Jesus gives. True freedom is found in letting Jesus live through you, with His love and power flowing from the inside out.
Our study of Ephesians has shown us that life with Jesus isn’t found in trying harder, behaving perfectly or following a list of rules. Instead, the way we walk in love, help people and live powerfully are simply the evidence that we belong to Him, and that His life flows out of us! When you are one with Jesus, it’s HIS kindness, forgiveness, peace and love that begin to show up in your words and actions. That’s Him coming out of you!
Let’s keep going in our study of Ephesians! I want you to see that the Christlike character found in every verse, all the way through the end of Chapter 6, is the evidence of Christ in you! Let’s look at verses 1-3 in Chapter 5, The Passion Translation.
Love Out Loud
The love God has for us is life-changing. It is not based on anything we can do to earn it or lose it. God loves us as much as He loves Jesus (John 17:26), and He sent Jesus to us so we could not only receive His love in our hearts, but show it in our everyday lives. Ephesians 5:1-2 , The Passion Translation, says, “Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters. And continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for he surrendered his life as a sacrifice for us.”
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul was teaching them (and us) about the Jesus-powered life. When He says, “Be imitators of God,” and “represent your Father,” He’s talking to us as children who BELONG to Him. The key to being an imitator of God is to walk surrendered, or under the power of, the great love that Jesus surrendered His life to bring us. What a powerful word! Let’s break this down.
Christlike Character: Jesus loves without limits. He’s given everything, even His life, so we can be one with the Father just like Him. He is exactly like the Father, so He loves like the Father. He imitates the Father and He has poured out the Father’s love for us.
Evidence: When we walk in love, choosing to be kind, patient, forgiving and generous, then we are imitating our heavenly Father by surrendering to the love of Jesus.
Christ in You: You’re not trying to love people by yourself. Jesus, who is Love, lives in you. His love flows out of you when you choose to love (even when it’s hard), or when someone doesn’t deserve it. You are just like Him!
A Pure Heart That Chooses What’s Right
The enemy of God is Satan, the devil, who would do anything to keep Jesus from being able to live through us. That’s why it’s important to know these things about the love of God and the work of the enemy. Satan tries to trick us into sin. He pours out temptation and evil to distract us. But Jesus made sure we had a way to be cleansed when we miss the mark, sin or mess up. He forgives us when we sin (1 John 1:9), and He is not angry at us. He wants to continue to empower us from the inside to live holy, like He does. Why? So that nothing stands in the way of Him living through us!
Have a conversation with your parents about temptations and how they may affect you. It’s important for you to be honest with them about what is bothering you. To be honest with your parents is to be honest with Jesus. We all want to help you live to the fullest. Don’t be afraid to have a real talk so you will have nothing to do with your enemy!
Jesus wants us to be imitators of God, just as He is. In 2 Corinthians 2:14, we read that He became a sweet fragrance of the love of God: “God always makes his grace visible in Christ, who includes us as partners of his endless triumph. Through our yielded lives he spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go.”
How many ways can the Word say it? You are JUST LIKE HIM! He’s a fragrance, and so are you! You smell like God and His LOVE!
Christlike Character: Jesus is pure in every way. He didn’t chase after selfish things, or act out of greed or lust. He lived to love, not to get something for Himself.
Evidence: When we choose to yield to Jesus, we show that we are set apart, different from the world around us. That’s good, because we carry the One that those around us need!
Christ in You: You’re not just avoiding bad stuff, you’re living a new kind of life because Jesus is in you. You belong to Him, and His Spirit helps you make good choices because you are holy (set apart for His love and purpose)! Why do we want to live this way? Because we love with His love and live with His purpose.
Your Turn, Superkid!
Take a moment to talk to Jesus. Ask Him to help you “Love Out Loud”—to walk in love, speak with kindness, and choose what’s right. Remember, this isn’t about trying harder, it’s about letting Jesus, your Good Shepherd, live through you.
You don’t have to fake it or force it. His love is already in you! The more you walk with Him, the more His love will shine (and smell) through your words, choices and life! Live free, love big and let the world see who Jesus is—through YOU.
Go ahead, Superkid—Love Out Loud!
Commander Kellie ♥