Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (5:1-2)Watch and observe extravagance and selflessness. This is what characterizes the love of Christ. This love - the only true and pure love - is foreign to us, rarely experienced, even more rarely given. Can I think of one thing that I have done today in love in which I didn't hope to get something from someone else? A smile, a "thank you", a sense of obligation, a recognition of my sacrifice, an approving look - all were expected on my end of things, all "variations on idolatry" (5:5).
God pours out His love on me, never concerned that He will come to the end of Himself, run dry, become drained. He set aside His every privilege, set Himself aside to help me get ahead (Php. 2:4-8). This is the way of love. This is the Love that "moves and breathes" in me (Eph. 4:30). Love like that.
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