This weekend the kids hear the account of Paul reminding the believers in Ephesus that Jesus taught about love and forgiveness. They learned that God calls us to practice love and forgiveness. They were encouraged to be imitators of God by loving and forgiving others as God loves and forgives us.

Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus is filled with advice and tips on how to “live the story,” including specific advice about to live in love with one another. In order to live a life of love, Paul first tells us to put away that which is harmful to ourselves and to others: “bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31). Instead Paul says that we must be “kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Wow! Can you imagine what kind of world we would live in if we all just followed those simple words of advice? The truth, though, is that our world is often full of the things that Paul advises us to “put away.”

God expects us to love as He intended. Note that Paul does not say that it will be easy for the church to follow this advice. Paul knew better than that! He knew how easy it is for people to use harsh words, to gossip about each other, to let anger get the best of them, or to carry a grudge. So Paul was not saying that living a life of love would be a simple task.

Paul did, however, give us one great tip on how we could work toward such a life. He wrote, “therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1). Surely, we are far from smelling like a fragrant sacrifice. But isn’t it wonderful that we are forgiven? And isn’t it great knowing that we have an example of Christ to follow in our own lives?

Children know about all the “junk” that Paul tell us to get out of our lives. They get angry; they sometimes say mean words. They unfortunately see adults behaving in such ways. So this week as you interact with your children, remember that they are looking at you, therefore, it is crucial that you become “imitators of God.” Remember that Paul said to be kind to one another that we should forgive. This week also encourage the children to fill their lives with love and kindness and forgiveness. As Christ is our supreme example, let’s strive also to be an example for little eyes and little lives to follow.