Be An Imitator of God

UV 3527/10000 Be An Imitator of God

Therefore become imitators of God (copy Him and follow His example), as well-beloved children ( imitate their father);

 

Ephesians 5 v 1

 

 

                       Imitation, it is said, is the highest form of worship.  When we imitate God and His visible expression, Jesus, we are worshipping Him.  When we imitate God/  Jesus, we are becoming the best version of ourselves.  We should not live like unbelievers whose understanding is darkened and reasoning is clouded, who are in willful ignorance and affected by spiritual blindness.  Their hearts are hardened or calloused and lost sensitivity to the goodness of God and instead, given themselves over to unbridled sensuality and feed their impure desires constantly.    We have learnt Christ, learnt from Him, learnt His word, seen His example.  Hence, we should put away our old self, our former nature, ungodly and sensual corrupted by deceitful desires of this world.  Instead, we should be continually renewed in the spirit of God, having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude.

 

                       We should put on the new self, regenerated and renewed in the image of God, living a righteous way to express our gratitude to God for our priceless salvation obtained at no cost to us but at total cost to Christ.   We should reject all falsehood like lying, defrauding, dabbling in half truths, speak the truth to one another and live as directed by the Head, the Christ.   We should express righteous anger against sin, immorality, injustice, ungodly behavior and yet not let anger control us.   We should end each day on a nil balance of anger.  We should not hold grudges or nurture anger, or harbor resentment or bitterness against anyone in our hearts.  We must live honestly and work hard.

 

                       We should not speak what is unworthy, non beneficial to the hearer or to us.  We should speak or express ourselves whether orally or in writing in such a way as to encourage or edify others in their faith, hope and love.   We should put away all bitterness, wrath, strife, conflict, slander, malice and instead, be kind, helpful, compassionate, understanding, gentle, mature, patient, forgiving one another freely even as God in Christ forgave us freely.   We become imitators of God when we do all the foregoing.  The Holy Spirit will actively assist us in this endeavor to be godly but we should take care not to grieve or hurt the gentle Holy Spirit who has sealed and marked us as God’s own people, a precious possession to be redeemed for eternity.