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 stems from several reasons such as admiration and ambition.
Apostle Paul encourages today that we be imitators of God. That is to learn from God and take after His every step. How He (God) thinks, moves, speaks, responds and reacts. The question however is, will imitating God be ever possible, since we are mortals and He, the Only Wise God?
YES IT IS POSSIBLE. IT BEGINS BY 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 (Himself) 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 us. Other believers are watching too. GOD IS WATCHING and so is our family too. Everyone is waiting to see the life of Christ in us. That heart that loves God so much and loves one’s neighbors too.
Imitators who do not look, act, think 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? Well they may try but fail before long. This is because His identity is so pure and genuine that it outshines any form of “imitation” which is not modeled, both in nurture and purpose, after God (Himself).
That is to say, if the Holy Spirit does not birth you anew (born again)” and fill you; 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 be like Him and to endure as a child of God, TO THE END.
Meditate on these. You know the many things God is that you try with your strength to be, but are not. You also know all those things you do that Christ will never do. And these two things worry you a lot. Well, begin to pray now. Tell 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? Run to God now and be changed into His image. Click: https://youtu.be/JdfQ4a0X4to
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