Paul begins Ephesian Chapter 5:1-2 having arrived at a conclusion as to how believers 
in Jesus should act. “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” He exhorts us to imitate God. What does that mean to you? Think of God’s attributes and consider the ones that He desires we have – like being forgiving, loving, kind, gentle, compassionate, thankful, pure, holy, …. God desires that we follow Christ’s example and imitate Him because He dearly loves us and we are His children. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross pleased God as it redeemed all mankind from death and enabled us to come before Him. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can be imitators of Jesus and have lives filled with love.
Where do you need to imitate Christ in your life? With your family, at work or school, on committees or groups you belong to?? Living a life of authentic Christianity is a call to sacrifice, humility and openness before God. I love Philippians 1:6 because it assures me that I am not in this struggle to live for Christ alone, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 4:19 assures me that He has what I need to live for Him, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” We can have hope that God 
will finish what He started in us when we became believers. He always completes what He starts! We can do this because God has the resources for all our needs. We just need to ask and be willing to serve Him. Be imitators of Christ today and experience His love in your life.
Linda
and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,” This verse is frequently said, “don’t go to bed angry”. Anger that is rooted in sin is filled with resentment, jealousy, bitterness and even hatred. Paul is saying, anger is a valid emotion but do not let it be for the wrong reasons. Jesus was angry with the money changers buying and selling in the temple and threw them out (Matthew 21:12). He was angry with the Pharisees for wanting to trap him and keep a man from being healed on the Sabbath (Mark 3:5). Both of these were cases of righteous anger. They were not rooted in self but in wrongs done towards God. When we harbor or coddle our anger, it will fester and grow. Paul is telling us to not let that happen as the results will be harmful to us and to those around us.
Focus today on right living, good thoughts and actions towards others, putting away all bitterness, jealousy, anger ….. Don’t let yourself fall into anger over your current circumstances, but look for the good and seek to see how you can ‘be Jesus’ to each one you speak with today.
In Ephesians 4:17-24 Paul describes to the Ephesians 
righteousness and holiness.” 
Be that transformed believer today! Reach out to others in love. Call, text, email, have a Zoom gathering, Face Time or use Google Chat or Duo with someone in these troubled days showing them you care about them and stand with them in the name of Christ.
world is in need of Christ and His redeeming love, our love as believers and the Truth of His Word. Endeavor to reach out to others this week in love, pray for those hurting around you, look for His truth in the Word of God as you open it this coming week. Read the Book (the Bible) to grow in wisdom, truth, love and knowledge of God.
Paul begins with ‘therefore’ as he wants his reader to remember all the points he has made so far in his letter about unity, love, the power of God and loving and serving each other. He sees himself as a slave or bond servant of Christ. Paul is totally committed to Christ and to them in love. He is willing to do what ever is need to tell other about Christ and the freedom available through faith in Him. Paul has experienced the transforming power of Christ in his life and sees the fruits of being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He is calling all those who follow Christ to step up and be followers in name and deed. Paul wants the Ephesians Christians to treat each other with love, patience, gentleness, humility, giving each other the benefit of the doubt, and walk and work together in unity. It is a tall order, but one that Paul knows they can live up to through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
indwelt, empowered and enabled to act and be more and more like Jesus as we grow in Him.
of redemption for all. It was 
Let these truths impact your life today as you speak with others and seek to serve them in the name of Christ. Here is a great verse to remind us of the blessings we have in Christ from Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” 
is a familiar verse that gets right to the heart of God.
When you say ‘thank you’ today for a Valentine gift you receive, a card, note, flowers or someone simply saying ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’, think about thanking God too. Thank Him for sending Jesus. 
verse 1-2 “
3 The floods have risen up, O 
Today is deemed Martin Luther King Day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who stood for rightness in the fight for freedom and equality for all men. He was very eloquent in speech and inspired many with his life and his fight against oppression. He challenges the generations to dream of equality and reach for it. Where do you have unrealized dreams today? Are you actively pursuing them, keeping them in focus and grabbing onto opportunities to make them happen?
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.
Fearless Living 