January 18 2026

Sunday January 18

“As Dear Children”

Ephesians 5:1-2

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Today we are looking at Ephesians 5:1-2, where the Apostle Paul gives us the clear admonition to walk in love. Also in in these two verses, Paul also gives us several reasons why we should walk in love. First, he tells us in verse 1 to “be imitators of God as dear children.” As the children of God, we are to be reflectors of who He is. God is love, and therefore we should reflect that love—the love God has for us and for the world around us.

The most quoted verse in the Bible, one we all know so well, tells us: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” God is a loving God, and because He is love, He is also a God who gives. As His children, we are called to love and to give of ourselves sacrificially for His glory.

I love the phrase Paul uses here, “as dear children.” Some translations say, “as beloved children.” Remember, at least twice in the Gospel of Matthew, the Father speaks from heaven and declares His love for His Son. At the baptism of Jesus in Matthew chapter 3, and again on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew chapter 17, God says, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Now think about this—we too are His beloved children. 1 John 3:1–3, tells us, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.” In Romans chapter 8, we are told that we cry out, “Abba, Father.” We have an intimate, personal relationship with our Father in heaven. Because of that relationship, and as proof of it, we should desire to show forth His love to the world around us as imitators of God and as His beloved children.

I also think about what Jesus prayed in John 17:23. He said, “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” Jesus prayed and said, “Father, just as You have loved Me, You love them.” Can you imagine that? Jesus is the beloved Son of God, and He tells us that the Father loves us in the same way He loves Him. How much does God love you? He loves you with the same love He has for His beloved Son—whom He gave as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

So, we see several reasons here for walking in love. We are children of God. We share in His nature, and His nature is love. We are beloved children who desire to please our Father in heaven. We cry out, “Abba, Father.” And then we see a third reason in verse 2: “Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

This phrase, “a sweet-smelling aroma,” is very meaningful. Our reflection of Christ’s love is pleasing to God—it rises as a sweet fragrance before Him. In the book of Leviticus, chapters 1 through 3 describe the three sweet savor offerings: the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the peace offering. The burnt offering pictures Christ’s complete devotion to God. The meal offering reflects His perfect character. The peace offering shows Christ making peace between sinful man and a holy God.

The sin offering and the trespass offering, found in Leviticus chapters 4 and 5, are not sweet savor offerings. Why? Because sin is not sweet or beautiful. Sin is what put Christ on the cross. Sin is what condemned us and would send us to a devil’s hell apart from Christ.

Oh, my friend, today let us remember who we are. We are dear children of God—beloved children—loved with an unimaginable, unconditional, selfless love. Therefore, let us walk in love as “His beloved children”

God bless you and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.