Birds in Flight

Lepaterique, Honduras

The Birds of Paradise flower is truly unique. There is no mistaking its character. This flower received its name because it resemble a bird in flight. The flower in this picture fits that description.

Whom do we resemble? Is there no mistaking whom we follow?

In Ephesians 5:1 Paul writes that we ought to imitate God as his dearly loved children. That sounds great, but with many different voices ringing in our head it is hard to discern what is the voice of God and what is the voice of the world so that we might follow his example.

Earlier in Ephesians Paul describes what it looks like to imitate God.

"Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ." Ephesians 4:32 God's Word to the Nations

Are these the only qualities we ought to imitate? No, but they are the foundation. The foundation of our relationship with God is forgiveness. The foundation of our human relationships is forgiveness.

Without forgiveness we cannot effectively communicate with each other.

Without sympathy we cannot dig deeper in our relationships, going beyond surface issues.

Without kindness we cannot enter into the space of another person.

This is how God has treated us. He has forgiven us in his Son, Jesus Christ. He knows our tears. He treats us with respect.

These are the qualities that make us look more like God than any others. As Birds of Paradise look like birds in flight, we Christians look like God when we imitate him.

Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2014 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.