Christ our Caregiver. Sunday Musings. Ephesians 5:1-2

Contact Helping.Mom (we don’t spam) The Secret of Christianity: We walk behind Christ, who walked before God. Everywhere He said, "Come, follow me."  Letter of Ephesians is master opus of Paul. Key of letter is to distinguish Christians from syncretism idolatry sinfulness and hedonism of Ephesians (fertility goddess Diana). What Christians Look Like? is a great sermon topic for this letter.   C-ity is Belief + Behavior. Doctrine and Duty. Christ opens our relationship with God as Savior, Christ governs our relationships to others as Lord. The first half of letter to Christians in Ephesians is God working salvation into us. Second half is our working out of what that salvation looks like before others. Paul says “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.“ A boulder has fallen into the pond of your life; the ripple effect will reach every corner of your water surface.  C-ity is Blender in your Guts  We are not saved by good deeds. But we are saved for good deeds. By faith, we are saved, by works we are judged. To whom much is given, much is expected. The gospel good news of Jesus is both vertical in worship and horizontal in walk. Our behavior proves belief.  Kids walk behind their Dad. WE all have pics of kids standing in their dad shoes. My Fave Picture is my daughter Lauren doing so in my business shoes, shirt & tie. She looks great in them, I must say (tho pic taken 35 yrs ago). God's favorite "picture" of us is walking in unity as siblings, following the example of Christ, serving others. But we cant serve others just in love; we must do so in charity. Caregivers give love. Christians are walkers, not mere talkers.  We walk in humility  We walk in truth  We walk in completeness, soundness of mind  We walk in maturity  We walk in confidence  We walk in counter-cultured ness  Walk in practicality  We are relevant! Salt & Light Jesus said Christianity is the most powerful force on planet.  See the lyrics by Philips, Craig & Dean, to song "I want to be just like you."  Christians walk the talk..  We walk behind Jesus, who walked before God. “Come, follow me” he said to fishermen & tax collectors. Rich & poor. To Lazarus, “come down.” John’s disciples left John to follow Jesus Jesus does Matt 5:16--he does good works seen by everyone which glorify God He is not a king somewhere who cannot be reached by peasants  He is not an ideal sensed only by a bald head  philosopher He is not a mean and scouring judge who hates all who stand before him Christ is a Caregiver! He gives care--he loves and give. Say again: he loves and gives. THIS is what we do as caregivers--we love and give But we must do both.  1 Cor 13:1 Tho I speak w tongues of great men even angels--if i have not charity i am become a loud & obnoxious cymbal being smashed in your ear We love & give as he loved & gave  J127 vs j215 Without charity you are nothing. 1 Cor 15:1  “I am nothing.” Caregivers give care. Our charity is ongoing, pleasant, present tense. It pleases God. It helps CR. It models Christlikeness. It shows were in His path. We are his ultimately.  Paul says (2Co 2:15: “we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ."  Sacrifice is both a verb and noun. We sacrifice a sacrifice. It connotes cost, intentionality, rareness, In a moment. Ultimate. Final. Commitment to the end.  Sweet smell. What you do and how and why please the Lord like a flower in field  pleases you. One satisfies God—we reach end for which we are created. One pleases Him in process.  Caregiving also keeps us from many sins in verses following (v3)  So how was Christ our caregiver?  Intentional—I have come to seek & save the lost. Seeks others' best--came not to condemn—they are con