After instructing believers to speak truth, control their anger, work so that they can give, use their words to build others up, and replace bitterness with forgiveness, Paul brings these commands together in one great calling: “Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love.”
We do not imitate God in order to become His children. We imitate Him because, through Christ, we already are His beloved children. Our identity comes before our conduct. As we learn the character of God through Scripture and see Him most clearly revealed in Christ, we are called to reflect the love of our Father in every part of life.
Paul does not leave us to define love according to emotion, tolerance, affirmation, or acceptance. He points us to Christ, who loved us and gave Himself up for us. His love was self-giving, substitutionary, and directed toward the glory of His Father. As the fulfilment of the Old Testament sacrifices, Christ offered Himself to God as a fragrant offering and reconciled His people to the Father.
Because Christ has loved us in this way, sacrificial love must become the continuing pattern of our lives. When we speak truth, control our anger, give generously, build others up with gracious words, and forgive those who hurt us, we imitate our Father and display the self-giving love of Christ. Our love for one another ultimately becomes an act of worship to God.