“Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”   Ephesians 5:1-2
 
Since we have put on the new man we are to be imitators of God.
“You were taught with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Ephesians 4:22-24
 
Our Christian walk can be summed up in being imitators of God.  The standard God has set before us, of course, is Christ Jesus.  God has set Him before us in the whole of Scripture.  
 
Love has always be God’s standard.  Even in all the ‘Shall nots’ in the Ten Commandments His love is revealed.  They warn and guard.  Let’s look at Exodus 20 from God’s side.  Vs. 1-4 is love for God and Vs. 6-10 is love for man.  
 
Love is loyal: it does not make other gods nor turn its back on the only true God:
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”  Vs. 3
 
Love is faithful: If you love God you are not going to turn from Him:
“You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.  For I, the LORD your God…”  Vs.4
 
Love is reverent (deep respect, awe and fear):  If you love God you are not going to use His name in vain, or drag it through the gutter:
“You shall not take the name of the LORD in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”  Vs. 7
 
Love is intimate:  Love draws aside for an exclusive time with our God whom we love.  (Believers’ Sunday, a day worship, as is every day.)
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”  Vs. 8
 
Now we are looking at love for man.  Streaming through the New Testament is the admonition to ‘love one another’.  Please read the verses that I include with the commandment verse.
 
Love is respectful:  Love is not disobedient and rebellious, it is respectful and honoring:
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days my be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”  Vs. 12 
(See Ephesians 6:1-3)
 
Love is harmless: True love would never murder any one:
“You shall not murder.”  Vs. 13 
(See Matthew 5:21-22 to see what Jesus has to say of this.)
 
Love is pure: Love seeks cleanness, innocence, freedom from evil:
“You shall not commit adultery.”  Vs. 14 (See 1 Corinthians 6:18-19)
 
Love is unselfish: Love gives, it does not take:
“You shall not steal.”  V. 15  (See Ephesians 4:28)
 
Love is truthful: Love does not lie against a neighbor, it does harm:
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”  Vs. 16
(See Ephesians 4:25)
 
Love is content: Love is content with what it has, it does not take others’ possessions:
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”  Vs. 17  (See Philippians 4:11-13)
 
So then: Love toward God is: loyal, faithful, reverent and intimate.
              Love toward man is: respectful, harmless, pure, unselfish, truthful, content.
 
Jesus sums it all up in Mark 12: 29-31!
 
Most Holy God, is the very person of love!  And as our opening verse tell us, we are to be imitators of God and to walk in love!  So let us do just that in and by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in every Believer!  Amen