As a mother I often drill into my home rules that our actions are a reflection of ourselves. So often we are bombarded with ideas of revenge and matching energy throughout movies, television, books and even in our daily interactions. As we walk on our Christian path we constantly have to fight the urges to act out of the character of the one we are trying to be like…Jesus.

There are many scriptures in the bible that instruct us on how to behave, act and how to deal with the bitterness of the world. However, today we will focus on a few scriptures from Ephesians 5 and 6. In this book you will find verses that tell you how to act as a husband, a wife, a father, a child and even as a Christian. Ephesians tells us how to love the way Jesus loved.

Ephesians 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.
Ephesians 5:19-21 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in fear of God.
Ephesians 5:22-25 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.
Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nature and admonition of the lord.

These verses show us that Jesus expects us to reflect his love into our lives and onto the world. We are called to love and submit. So often when discussing this among fellow Christians I have heard the term “Until”. We submit to our husbands “until” we find a reason not to. We love our wives “until” we don’t. We obey our parents or don’t anger our children “until” we find a reason to justify why we would do the opposite. We love our brethren and sisters in Christ “until” we learn of their sins. We love our neighbors and those in our communities “until” we decide it’s too difficult or requires too much of a sacrifice from us. However, as one can see in the verses above there is no “until”. Jesus did not command us to do these things until someone else’s behavior made it too hard. Jesus did not tell us to love everyone unless it asks too much of you to do so. Our actions are a reflection of us and if we are living a Jesus filled life should ultimately reflect Him. We are not called to do these things until or unless.

Let’s not forget the sacrifice Jesus made for us despite the “untils” and “unlesses”. At no point did Jesus say I will love you until you sin. He didn’t say I won’t be the perfect sacrifice for your sins unless. Jesus loved us, submitted himself and ultimately paid the highest price there is and sacrificed himself for us. So when you hear “until and unless” remember, if we are to be Christ like, we should always strive to follow his example even if others do not. You get to decide what kind of person you want to be, what kind of life you want to have. I beg you to choose a Jesus filled life and be a Jesus like person.