At the end of every podcast, we like to ask our guests to share what God has been teaching them in this season of life. This week’s guest is Trae Stephens , a Principal at Founders Fund, where he focuses on startups operating in the government space.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us

You know, I think that on the topic of imitation, I was really surprised during a study where I looked at all of these scriptures that maybe I had kind of known in the back of my head. But I was surprised where things that existed like Ephesians 5:1 says therefore be imitators of God as beloved children. 

This is just one example of where we’re called to be imitators. There's literally dozens and dozens and dozens of them. And I think going back into the scripture and kind of better understanding the message of Christ outside of the context of death, burial. and resurrection was truly life-giving. 

I think I've grown up with this understanding that Jesus came to Earth to die for our sins so that we might spend eternal life with him. And the father was like, that was it. That's why he came. He came to die. 

And the contrary perspective on this that I think is way more interesting and true is that, yes, he did come to die, but he also came to live in obedience. And there is a reason why he came to live in obedience. And that's because Jesus was both our deliverer and the image of what God is delivering us to—a perfect relationship with Him.