Ephesians 5 is definitely a “What Would Jesus Do?” chapter. Several times Paul writes that we are to think and act like Christ. Here are some examples:

• “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” v 1
• “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” v 2
• “Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” v 17
• “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” vs 8-10
• “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” v 25
• “In the same way [as Christ loved the church] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies….just as Christ does the church….” vs 28-29

There is a lot in Ephesians 5 and it would do us all well to reflect on that chapter. The chapter’s focus is applying all we know about what Jesus would do in our situations. In a nutshell, we are commanded to be like Christ. 

To be imitators of God is to imitate His behavior. We are to understand His will. We are to do what is pleasing to Him. 

The section specifically singles out husbands. The verse tells Husbands to love their wives in the same manner that Christ loved the Church. How is that? Husbands are to exemplify for the world the love that Christ has for these who belong to Him. How did Christ love the Church, His bride, whom He bought by the price of His death on the cross? He came down from the highest place to become a servant. He loved and prayed and served and washed feet. He walked the narrow way to the cross. He did not hold on to His rights. Likewise, husbands are commanded to show the world the love of Christ toward the church by the way they love their wives.

And what is this love like? In Philippians 2: 1-8 beautifully describes Jesus’ love for the church:

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

We are all to live out this to the best of our ability—male, female, husbands, wives, children, parents—with the full aid of the Holy Spirit. We must bring ourselves to the cross of Christ daily to submit to His will and His ways, so that in full measure, we are showing the world who Jesus is and how He is alive in His people. Begin today by praying and starting to dig deeply into His word to learn of Him and His ways.

His word to all of us is: “Be imitators of God, as beloved children.”