Today’s Devotion
Topic: Imitators Of God
Text: Ephesians 5: 1- 2 (ESV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 3 and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Amen
An imitator is someone who copies the behavior or action of another. The decision to follow another person as a model, may stem from several reasons such as admiration and ambition.
Apostle Paul encourages us today that we be imitators of God. That is to learn from God and take after His every step. How He thinks, talks, moves, speaks, responds and reacts. And is that possible since we are mortals and He, the Only Wise God? Yes it is! By the help of the Holy Spirit aiding us in WALKING IN LOVE, JUST AS CHRIST LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US.
No other way to best imitate God except through the demonstration of love. He is love, and everything He does and says is fundamentally rooted in love. We can not learn from Him if we have no love.
Therefore “do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29- 32).
The world is watching, other believers are watching, GOD IS WATCHING and your family is watching. Everyone is waiting to see if they find the life of Christ in you. That heart that loves God so much and loves one’s neighbors too.
Imitators who do not look, act or talk like Him, may not be of Him after all. They profess God with their lips but their hearts belong somewhere else. That is why although they put on His Identity (Christians), they don’t look a thing like Him.
And can anyone hope to fake His identity? It is so pure and genuine that it outshines any form of imitation whose model is not from the original factory (God Himself). That is to say, unless you’re born again of the Holy Spirit; exchanging your sinful nature for the life of Christ, you will remain a “compromised version” of God, having not the mind of Christ, hence lacking the ability to endure as a child of God TO THE END.
Begin to pray therefore. You know the many things God is that you try with your strength to be, but can not. You also know all those things you do that Christ will never do. Ask the Holy Ghost to change your heart and teach you to love like He does. Also, ask Him to conform your will to His and incline your ears to His word. Those who are of Him, look like Him, why must you look differently?
(www.yonghana.org, Like our Facebook page: Y OUTREACH NETWORK)
