Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us
(Ephesians 5.1-2
NRSV)
Well, in a very practical way this teaching reminds us to treat other people, the everyday people we come in contact with throughout our lives, in the same way that God treats them. It means treating others fairly, and being honest in all of our relationships, whether personal or professional. And most importantly, we must be as forgiving of others as God is of us.
Tony Campolo had a hard time sleeping one night, so he got up at three thirty in the morning and went searching for an all-night coffee shop. He had found one and had ordered a donut and a cup of coffee when two prostitutes came in. They were loud and crude, and quite disagreeable company. Tony was ready to leave when he overheard one of the women say that the next day was her birthday.
Her friend sneered, "So what do you want from me? a birthday party?" To which the woman replied, "Why should you give me a birthday party? I've never had a birthday party in my whole life." Now when Tony heard that, something clicked inside. He went over to the waiter and asked if the women came in every night, which they did. Then he then asked if he could hold a birthday party for the one woman, Agnes. Well, the waiter thought it was a wonderful idea, and agreed.
Tony was back at the diner the next morning at two-thirty to decorate. He brought some crepe paper decorations and made a big birthday sign out of pieces of cardboard. He covered that diner from one end to the other. Somehow word of the party must have gotten out, because pretty soon the diner began to fill up with Agnes' friends.
At three thirty, Agnes and the other woman entered the diner. Everyone shouted, "Happy Birthday, Agnes!" and began singing happy birthday. Well, she was stunned. Her mouth fell wide open. By the time the waiter brought in the cake she was crying.
A little later Tony Campolo led the group in prayer. He prayed for Agnes and her salvation, and her friends. He prayed that her life would be changed and that God would be good to her. Do you want to know the worst part about this whole story? No one had ever treated that woman like a child of God before.
And when Tony accepted that woman, when he accepted her for the sake of her soul, he made a difference in her life. A real difference.
God of love, with your holy love, may I labor to make a real difference. Amen.
